Parque-Museo La Venta

The Parque-Museo La Venta in Villahermosa, Mexico, is an important archaeological museum devoted to Olmec culture. Set in a green park near the Laguna de las Ilusiones, it displays artifacts from the La Venta site, which was discovered in 1925. Opened in 1958, the museum is home to four imposing colossal heads, among other pieces, as well as about fifty other sculptures. These works impress with their originality and masterful craftsmanship, even though the Olmec artists had to make do without metal tools. Some exhibits have since been moved to a neighboring regional museum, but the park still offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of this early advanced civilization.