The Lewis Jones Tiny-Museum: Celebrating the Legacy of Lewis Jones and the Founding of Y Wladfa
Lewis Jones (1836–1904) holds a unique place in Welsh history for his central role in founding Y Wladfa, the Welsh settlement in Patagonia, Argentina.
Driven by a desire to protect and preserve the Welsh language and culture from the anglicizing influences in Britain, Jones, together with Michael D. Jones and other Welsh visionaries, set forth to create a new Welsh-speaking colony in South America. Remarkably, the first conversations about this visionary project were held in a modest room within Capel Engedi, Caernarfon, where Jones and his peers dared to dream of a Welsh community far from British shores.
In 1865, after years of careful planning, Jones and a group of Welsh settlers set sail from Liverpool on the ship Mimosa. They arrived on the rugged Patagonian coast, and despite challenging conditions, established a Welsh-speaking community in the Chubut Valley. Today, the descendants of these settlers continue to keep the Welsh language and culture alive in Patagonia, demonstrating the lasting impact of Jones’s legacy.
Illustration of the Welsh settlers’ journey aboard the Mimosa.
A Museum Bridging Wales and Patagonia
In tribute to Lewis Jones and the remarkable story of Y Wladfa, Engedi 2.0 is please to announce we’re going to open of a small museum within Capel Engedi, commemorating the history of this unique Welsh colony. This museum marks a collaboration with museologists from Chubut, Patagonia, who are helping shape an authentic exhibit that honors both the Welsh and Patagonian heritage. Through this collaborative effort, we aim to create a lasting cultural link between Wales and Patagonia, where visitors can explore the roots of Y Wladfa in the very place the idea was born.
Honoring a Shared Heritage
By opening this museum at Capel Engedi, Engedi 2.0 celebrates not only the legacy of Lewis Jones but also the enduring bond between Wales and Patagonia. We invite visitors to join us in exploring this unique cultural story and to celebrate the resilient spirit of Y Wladfa. This small but meaningful space will honor a pivotal chapter in Welsh history, connecting future generations to the dreams and determination of the Welsh settlers who set sail from Caernarfon over 150 years ago.
Stay tuned for the museum’s opening date and join us in honoring this extraordinary Welsh-Patagonian connection. For more information on visiting or supporting this project, please contact us via the form on the main page.