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Bookmark & sharePre-20th-Century History
In 1870, the British-based South American Missionary Society made Ushuaia its first permanent Fuegian outpost, but only artifacts, shell mounds, Thomas Bridges' famous dictionary of the Yahgan language, and memories remain of the Yahgan people who once flourished here.
Between 1884 and 1947, Argentina incarcerated many of its most notorious criminals and political prisoners here and on remote Isla de los Estados (Staten Island).
Modern History
In 1906, the military prison was moved to Ushuaia and, in 1911, it was combined with the Carcel de Reincidentes, which had incarcerated civilian recidivists since 1896.
Since 1950, the town has been an important naval base. The growth of industries such as electronics assembly encouraged people to settle here with higher wages and other perks. This resulted in a jumble of housing developments advancing in the few directions the mad geography allowed.
Recent History
A coveted destination for its remote location and 'end of the world' status, Ushuaia is attracting a growing number of tourists.
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