Arriving to Barranco from Miraflores through one of the main avenues, like the Bolognesi Avenue or Grau Avenue, one goes inside a small city constructed with urban spaces that conserve their original intimate scale of closed character. The cozy atmosphere confers unique urban value. Barranco is one of the oldest baths in Lima it was founded by the end of XVIII Century by the neighbors of the villa of Surco, where a small Spanish population, related to the rich farms in the vicinity, was established.

Originally it was a small village of fishing natives. Barranco became important during the Republic when it became a resort town for the important families of Lima that constructed beautiful residences. English and German families raised beautiful farms surrounded by gardens and contributed thus to the progress and embellishment of Barranco.

Great trees bordered the calm streets of Barranco. In 1870 a slope to the baths was constructed.
This slope had a series of ramps that arrived to the sea. In 1821 the Levee of the English men was built, point of meeting and strolls, surrounded by elegant farms.

Barranco was called the “City of the Mills”, because the houses had air mills for water supply, and that gave a pleasing and colorful aspect to it.
It is to be noticed that its flowery atmosphere of clear spaces and, at the same time, intimate made one of our great poets, Abraham Valdelomar, say: “I come to Barranco to wash my spirit in the clearness of the sky and to perfume it”. Many great figures of the Peruvian poetry like Jose Maria Eguren and Martin Adan lived in Barranco.

The most important residences of Barranco at the end of the XIXth Century and the beginning of the XXth have a character of elegance that is shown by the neoclassic style.
In form of a “U” with central grates, elements of wood and academic architecture or of a luxurious fantasy, getting near to notables and peculiar architectonic expressions, the house of the Osma family is a building located in the Pedro de Osma Avenue Nº 423. Most of the buildings located in this avenue are constructions made of adobe with one floor. They were constructed at the beginning of the XXth Century.

Nowadays this avenue holds new buildings as well, generally constructions of more than two floors, that go against the style the avenue. This is saved by the existing ficus that were seeded in 1891.

Historical facts of the house

1871: Mr. Nazario Espichan sells a land to Maria Loreto Cusso that bordered on both sides with lands of the Hacienda Villa. On the north it bordered with lands of Blas Espichan and on the south with lands of Sinforoso Aguirre.

1898: Mrs. Loreto leaves a little farm to her daughter Antonia Falcon de Mayorga. The extension of the building was about half of fanegada. (About a twelfth of an acre.)
Pedro de Osma Av., 421-423-425.

1906 Mr. Pedro de Osma y Pardo acquires dominion of the building by transaction. From this year an elevation of the construction is dated, with two floors of height, signed by the Architect Basurco.
1907 The land is subject to interdiction decreed by the Permanent Military Judge of the Zone of Lima, by crime of rebellion and others, by Augusto Durand, Pedro de Osma, and others. “In attention to the gravity and multiplicity of the crimes, matter of this instruction, to the enormous quantity of the civil responsibilities to pay, the caused damages, the expenses conducted by the state treasury (…) do the embargo of his goods, sending immediately the respective offices to all the Registries of Immovable Property of the Republic.” This same year, the interdiction is cancelled, by virtue of the ordered by the Privative Room of First Instance of the most excellent Supreme Court.

1908: Mrs. Angelica Gildemeister de Osma acquires the land, by virtue of the declaration of Mr. Pedro de Osma y Pardo, which declares that he acquired the property with his wife’s money.

1920-1936: The house is recognized by the important receptions and celebrations of the Carnival organized there by its owners.
1948: Mr. Pedro de Osma Gildemeister begins to show his collection of objects of Viceregal Art by previous appointment.

1953: Mr. Pedro and Mrs. Angelica de Osma Gildemeister, acquire dominion of the building by inheritance when their mother passes away.

1967: Mrs. Angelica de Osma Gildemeister, acquires dominion of the building when her brother passes away.
1974: After the earthquake, the building is damaged and the visits to the Collection are cancelled.

1984: The building is affected to the Angelica de Osma Gildemeister Foundation, by the will of its owner.
1980: The building is declared National Monument, by ministerial resolution Nº 0928-80-ED.

1987: The collection is presented to the public like The Pedro de Osma Museum.

1981: The Restoration Project begins, meant to transform the building into a museum. The project was commissioned to the architect Eugenio Nicolini. The project includes the restoration of the Main House and the Pavilion placed behind the house (the dining room).

2004: The building is affected to the Pedro and Angelica de Osma Gildemeister Foundation

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