It was created by ordinance on May 28 , 1957 , following a donation from the aristocratic philanthropist Alberto Mena Caamaño . The donation included more than 600 objects including paintings , sculptures , archaeological pieces , weapons and miscellaneous items . After a restoration of the former Royal Barracks building , the museum opened to the public on November 3 , 1959 . In 1970 a permanent exhibition hall was added on a theme of the slaughter which occurred on August 2 , 1810 , when 200 citizens were killed in the barracks and the surrounding streets of Quito by royalist troops . It is depicted by wax figures of the artist Francisco Barbieri . In 1987 the museum had to close its doors due to minor damage to the building structure , as a result of the earthquakes that rocked Quito that year . Finally , on November 27 , 2002 it reopened following extensive restoration
earthquakes
1987 Ecuador earthquakes
Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum