Ministry of Development (Peru)

The Ministry of Development and Public Works (Ministerio de Fomento y Obras Públicas) was a government ministry of Peru. Created in 1896, it oversaw the development of public works, infrastructure and charity. Its former headquarters, located at the Park of the Exhibition, now house the Metropolitan Museum of Lima since 2010.

History
The ministry was created on January 22, 1896, under the presidency of Nicolás de Piérola, with Eduardo López de Romaña chosen to serve as its first minister. The ministry initially brought together the following offices:
 * Public Works (which had previously belonged to the Ministry of Government and Police).
 * Industries (which was previously part of the Ministry of Finance).
 * Charity (which came from the Ministry of Justice and Instruction).

By the decree of February 25, 1896, two Directorates were created in the Ministry: Development (in charge of mining, industry, charity and hygiene matters) and Public Works and Irrigation. By law of October 3, 1896, the School of Engineers became dependent on this Ministry (previously dependent on the Ministry of Justice and Instruction).

The Minister's office was in the Government Palace, later being transferred to the premises where the Municipal Palace stands today. In 1910, its permanent transfer to the Palace of the Exhibition was arranged, where he shared the facilities with the Municipal Council of Lima. Over time, this location became insufficient and the ministry was housed in a building located on 28 de Julio Avenue.

The founding of this ministry constituted a milestone in the restructuring of the Peruvian state in the aftermath of the War of the Pacific. From the founding of Peru until then, there had only been five ministries: Government and Police; Foreign Relations; Justice and Instruction; Finance and Commerce; and War and Navy. The creation of a Ministry of Development implied that the State was convinced that it should promote the economic and material development of the country. The new ministry attracted a new bureaucracy, made up of engineers, sociologists, economists, doctors, and geographers. Throughout the 20th century, this ministry was disintegrated into several others.