Navy Petty-Officers School of Mechanics

We stand at the entrance to a sprawling, seventeen-hectare complex located on the busy Avenida del Libertador in Boo-eh-nos Eye-res. Architecturally, the crisp, white pavilions and manicured lawns resemble a typical, orderly…

We approach the Casino de Oficiales, the Officers' Quarters. This specific building was the epicenter of the clandestine operation within the vast ESMA complex. …

We now descend into the basement. This wide, low-ceilinged subterranean space was the first stop for almost all kidnapped individuals brought to ESMA. …

We ascend the stairs, past the officers' living quarters, and arrive at the uppermost levels of the building: the attic, known chillingly as 'Capucha' (Hood), and the smaller space above it, 'Capuchita' (Little Hood). These were…

Within the horrors of the Officers' Quarters, there existed a room with a uniquely sinister purpose. This was the clandestine maternity ward. …

As we move toward the exit of the building, we must confront the final, horrific fate of the vast majority of the prisoners held here. The military needed a way to dispose of thousands of bodies without leaving physical evidence. …

Emerging from the oppressive darkness of the Casino de Oficiales back into the daylight of the campus, it is crucial to recognize that the story of ESMA is not solely one of victimhood and terror; it is also a story of immense…

As our solemn tour of the ESMA Space for Memory concludes, we walk back toward the bustling gates of Avenida del Libertador. Leaving this site is always accompanied by a heavy, complex emotional burden. …