Ross Casino
| Agustín Ross Cultural Centre | |
|---|---|
| Centro Cultural Agustín Ross | |
Agustín Ross Cultural Centre in 2017.
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| General information | |
| Type | Cultural center |
| Architectural style | French Baroque; highly influenced by the Grand Trianon |
| Location | Pichilemu, Chile |
| Address | Agustín Ross Avenue, in front of the Agustín Ross Park |
| Coordinates | 34°23′12″S 72°00′35″W / 34.38658°S 72.00976°WCoordinates: 34°23′12″S 72°00′35″W / 34.38658°S 72.00976°W |
| Inaugurated | 1909 (construction: 1906–1909) |
| Renovated | 2009; 2011 |
| Cost | 1,327,404USD |
| Owner | Government of Pichilemu / Corporación Cultural de Pichilemu (2009–present) |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 1,936.04 square metres (20,839 sq ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | Three |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Agustín Ross Edwards |
| Official name | Casino (antiguo) de Pichilemu |
| Type | Monumento Histórico (Historic Monument) |
| Designated | 25 February 1988 |
| Supreme Decree | #100 (published on 7 April 1988) |
| Region | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
Agustín Ross Cultural Centre (Spanish, Centro Cultural Agustín Ross), previously known as Casino Ross (Ross Casino), is the cultural center of the city of Pichilemu in Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region, Chile. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909 at the request of politician Agustín Ross Edwards. The structure of the cultural center is very similar to that of the Grand Trianon in Versailles, France.
It is best known for housing one of the first casinos of Chile; a casino operated in the building between 1917 and 1931. After 1931 all casinos, except the newly opened Casino de Viña del Mar, were declared illegal. The building has also been used as a post office, a store selling imported goods, a hotel, a discotheque, and a bar. There were two attempts by the local government to purchase the building; the first time in 1982 failed while the second in 1995 succeeded. The former casino was declared a National Monument of Chile along with the Agustín Ross Park in February 1988.
Over time, the building deteriorated, and a project was approved in January 2007 for it to be renovated for use as a cultural center. The restored building opened in January 2009 and houses the local library. In January 2010, the cultural center was inaugurated by President Michelle Bachelet and Mayor Roberto Córdova.
Agustín Ross Edwards was a wealthy Chilean writer, member of parliament, government minister and politician. He reportedly had the dream of "creating a port which could be an alternative to the Valparaíso port," but this would turn later into "creating a touristic place, an elite resort, collecting the most important characteristics of European places, which would make it unique."
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