The main characteristic of the original collection is that the various pieces were not chosen for scientific or anthropological or even encyclopedic reasons. Its interest and homogeneity derives from the fact that they were chosen according to the aesthetic criteria of the donor. From there the name "art" museum originates, in order to distinguish it from an anthropology, archaeology or ethnography museum.
The museum also has valuable ethnographic collections, particularly of Mapuche and Aymara objects.

At present the museum owns 3,110 pieces, which cover a period of approximately 10,000 years of Latin American history.
It has a library specializing in pre-Columbian art, archaeology, anthropology and Latin American prehistory, with a collection of some 6,000 volumes, 500 periodicals and 1,900 offprints. The library material is available only to members of the museum.

The museum houses a permanent exhibition called "America Precolombina en el Arte" and temporary exhibitions which change every year. The museum has a guide service which can be requested by telephone or email.
It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00 hrs. It is closed on Mondays.

It is located at Bandera 361 one block from the Plaza de Armas in Santiago. Its telephone number is (56-2) 6887329- 6887348,
email: Icbmchap@reuna.cl and the website is http://www.precolombino.cl/