Man appeared in Patagonia between ten and thirty thousand years BC, during the higher Paleolithic Period. Testimony of this are the findings of numerous negative rock paintings of hands, similar to the ones found in Europe. During the latter part of the Stone Age there was a peaceful coexistence, around Nahuel Huapi.
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Between the Tehuelche tribes from the south, the Puelche from the east and the Pehuenche from the north. This ended around the 17th century with the arrival of the Araucanos. Due to the relentless Spanish invader, the Mapuche or Araucanos came over from Chile and their culture absorbed the previous tribes. Captain Don Francisco de César, half a century before, had heard rumors of the existence of a fabulous city built of gold and precious stone on the shores of a large lake in the southern territories. The Church and the Army set off in a vain attempt to find the city; they found it impossible to civilize the Indians and generally found a tragic death. Such was the end of fathers Nicolas Mascardi, Guillelmo, Elgea y Laguna. For more than a century there was no more news from this area until new expeditions started around 1860 with the arrival of Cox from Chile and Perito Francisco Moreno from Argentina. The “Desert Campaign” totally subdued the Indian remnants in 1879. White man – the Europeans – completely took over the archeological remains and destroyed the remaining Indian culture of the Lake District. Carlos Wiederhold built the first general store in the area in 1895, but San Carlos de Bariloche is officially founded on the 3rd of May of 1902. It was named Carlos in honor of Mr. Wiederhold and Bariloche from the Indian term Vuriloche. |
Towards the end of the summer of Bariloche´s founding year the first so-called tourists arrived al Nahuel Huapi from Buenos Aires: Aaron Anchorena, Carlos Lamarca and Esteban Lavallol. Later on new roads started opening up. Thanks to the visit of president Theodor Rooselvelt, in 1913, the first road for cars was completed. In 1921 the first plane arrived at Bariloche from San Fernando, province of Buenos Aires, where it left the day before with stop over at Bahia Blanca, Rio Colorado and Cipoletti. A decade later the first train arrived. Thanks to Exequiel Alejandro Bustillo´s inspiration and with architect Ernesto de Estrada´s professional help, in 1936 several important buildings such as the Cathedral, the Civic Center, Llao Llao hotel and San Eduardo Church made up the center for the future tourist attraction. |
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