Pehuajó showcases its cultural history through several specific landmarks: the Monumento a Martín Fierro, the Escultura de Manuelita, and the collections at the Museo Rafael Hernández. Other points of interest include Plaza Dardo Rocha, Estación de Pehuajó, and Parque General San Martín. The Festival Nacional de Folklore Surero adds a recurring cultural event to these places.
Martín Fierro, the plaza, and railway history
The Monumento Nacional al Martín Fierro in Pehuajó was inaugurated on November 10, 1972. The Monumento a Martín Fierro is the only monument in the country dedicated to Martín Fierro and José Hernández. Its central equestrian figure was destroyed by a tornado on April 13, 1993.
Plaza Dardo Rocha is Pehuajó’s main square and is named after the city’s founder. The current Estación de Pehuajó building was inaugurated on February 2, 1911. These are two different ways of connecting with the city’s history: the square’s name links it to the city’s founding, while the station building marks a precise date through its inauguration.
Park, folklore, and Manuelita
Parque General San Martín is a recreational park featuring classical sculptures, a gazebo on Avda. Perón, and an artificial lake. Two islands in the lake are connected by bridges. While Plaza Dardo Rocha’s name recalls the city’s founder, the sculptures and lake define the park’s public space.
The Festival Nacional de Folklore Surero takes place every year in the first half of January at the Anfiteatro Manuel Belgrano in Parque General San Martín. The amphitheater has a capacity of 3,000 people. The festival includes competitions in singing, dancing, guitar, and malambo. If you plan to time your stay to coincide with the festival, check the dates for that year’s edition.
The Escultura de Manuelita is considered an attraction for children and families. With this sculpture, Pehuajó honors Manuelita the turtle, an icon of national culture. It is located between Pehuajó’s two entrances on Ruta Nacional Nº 5 at kilometer 365.
Museum and local history
The Museo Rafael Hernández offers exhibitions, workshops, and activities that introduce residents and tourists to local history. Its collections include objects, documents, and memorabilia relating to daily life, occupations, culture, and changes in the local community. Alongside individual objects, the changes in community life are also in focus.
Context within the wider destination of Pehuajó Partido
The history of the Festival Nacional de Folklore Surero in Pehuajó Partido dates back to 1967, when the festival was established. The institutional history of the Museo Regional Rafael Hernández is also part of the wider destination of Pehuajó Partido. Under Provincial Law No. 8744 of March 15, 1977, the site of the former “La Pastora” estancia was transferred to the Municipality of Pehuajó for the establishment of a museum; this led to the creation of the Museo Regional Rafael Hernández.
The natural setting of Pehuajó Partido includes the A. Jauretche Canal, which crosses the district and carries water from west to east, as well as the lagoons El Recado, El Cueru, Arrillaga, and Laguna La Salada. These details provide a broader regional context for the local cultural and historical offerings, without attributing these landscape features to the town of Pehuajó itself.
For an overview of the wider destination: Pehuajó Partido.
