the emperor was so impressed by the building, that he ordered for the ball in honor of the officers of the chilean navy ship almirante cochrane, to be held here in 9 november 1889.

it was a moment of unbound ostentation that would make history - it would also be the very last ball of the imperial era. in fact, on the 15 of november a coup d'état brought the end of the monarchy and the advent of the presidential republic.