Sara Braun was born in Kiev, Ukraine. Her father, who was born in Latvia in the Jewish community of Talsi first settled in Buenos Aires and later moved to Punta Arenas. She married a Portuguese entrepreneur, Jose Nogueira and together they built this mansion in 1890. She never had children but her brother married into the Menendez family and together they established a huge sheep ranch, shipping business, cattle ranch, and other enterprises. Together, these families created Punta Arenas but in the 1920's the economy failed and they returned to Buenos Aires, donating this mansion and the Braun-Menendez mansion to the state. Part of this one serves as the elegant period Jose Nogueira Hotel although the front portion is retained as a period museum.
