This article reflects on Gabriela Mistral's interpretations of the colonial period in her written prose. The hypothesis presented is that these historical re-interpretations were a crucial part in the reformulation of the discourse concerning American identity that took place in the early decades of the twentieth century, and in which Mistral was a key figure. The first two sections analyze the images she constructs of the colonial period and independence, contrasting them with the conventions established by nineteenth century historiography. The last section discusses Mistral's position in the cultural field of the time, highlighting the tensions found in her own work between americanismo, Indigenism and discussions concerning mestizaje (miscegenation).