A trove of some 1,600 gold pieces dating from 500 B.C. to 1500 A.D., is the primary lure here; visitors are usually bowled over by the intricate workmanship on the small gold items. Interestingly, gold was used in many forms, from cast animal figurines to jewelry to functional pieces. But the museum goes beyond the shiny, yellow stuff with a smartly curated survey of pre-Columbian culture, including exhibits on history, metalworking, and customs. The Gold Museum is directly underneath the downtown Plaza de la Cultura, and the same complex contains the Museo Numismático, a coin museum.