Located in the 16th-century village of Altos de Chavón in the Dominican Republic, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas is home to an important archaeological museum. Established in 1981, the Altos de Chavón Archaeological Regional Museum displays an extensive collection of indigenous artifacts spanning from 4,000 BC to 1503 AD, including items connected to the period of Spanish contact and conquest.
The museum’s holdings exceed 3,000 pieces and are considered among the most significant collections illustrating the Taíno culture of the Dominican Republic. Its reputation has been further enhanced by the recent appointment of Margarita González as museum director. González brings nearly four decades of experience in museum leadership, conservation and public education.
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“We are thrilled to bring Margarita’s wealth of expertise to the Altos de Chavón Archaeological Regional Museum,” said Jason Kycek, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Casa de Campo. “In our search for this position, we wanted someone who combined deep knowledge with a genuine passion for the history of the Dominican Republic. Margarita offers both, along with a proven record as an educator within Casa de Campo and the broader Dominican community.”
González’s career highlights include coordinating four international UNESCO/ICOM congresses focused on studying and protecting cultural heritage. Her previous leadership roles span several important institutions: she has served as curator at the Museum of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit in Mexico City, director of the Music Museum in Santo Domingo, and director of the Museum of Telecommunications in Santo Domingo. Prior to her appointment at Altos de Chavón, González held directorships at the Viceregal Alcázar de Colón Museum in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo and at Ponce de León’s Colonial House in Higüey.
Under González’s direction, the Altos de Chavón Archaeological Regional Museum is positioned to strengthen its educational outreach, conservation efforts and exhibition programming. Her extensive experience with international heritage organizations, combined with a long record of leading museums in the Caribbean and Latin America, offers opportunities to expand collaborative research, enhance visitor programs and promote awareness of the Taíno legacy.
Visitors to Altos de Chavón can explore the museum’s artifacts alongside the village’s reconstructed 16th-century architecture, artisanal shops and cultural venues. The museum remains a key destination for anyone interested in the pre-Columbian history of the Dominican Republic and the stories preserved through its archaeological collections.