Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology Celebrates 200 Years
On July 15, 2025, the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City launched the exhibition "200 años del Museo Nacional," celebrating the 200th anniversary of Mexico's inaugural national museum, established in 1825 by President Guadalupe Victoria. The museum's history begins with a proposal from Lucas Alamán in 1822. It officially opened in 1825, curated by Isidro Ignacio de Icaza, within the Real y Pontificia Universidad de México. In 1865, Emperor Maximilian relocated it to the Casa de Moneda. In 1940, the museum was divided, leading to the formation of the Museo Nacional de Antropología. The current facility, which covers 70,000 square meters, was inaugurated on September 17, 1964, and features extensive collections of pre-Columbian art.
Key facts
- Exhibition '200 años del Museo Nacional' opened July 15, 2025 at Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City.
- Exhibition runs until September 2025.
- Museum founded in 1825 by President Guadalupe Victoria.
- First curator was Isidro Ignacio de Icaza.
- Original location was Real y Pontificia Universidad de México.
- Coatlicue and Piedra del Sol discovered in 1790 during Plaza Mayor leveling.
- Moved to Casa de Moneda in 1865 by Emperor Maximilian.
- Sala de Monolitos opened in 1887.
- Escuela Internacional de Arqueología y Etnología Americanas founded in 1911.
- Renamed Museo Nacional de Antropología on December 13, 1940.
- Current building designed by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, inaugurated September 17, 1964 by President Adolfo López Mateos.
- Building covers 70,000 sq m (44,000 indoors, 35,700 outdoors) with over 20 permanent galleries.
- Houses largest collection of pre-Columbian art from Aztec, Maya, Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Teotihuacan, and Toltec cultures.
Entities
Artists
- Catherwood
- Charnay
- Maler
- Maudslay
- Isidro Ignacio de Icaza
- Lucas Alamán
- Pedro Ramírez Vázquez
- Guadalupe Victoria
- Agustín de Iturbide
- Maximilian I of Mexico
- Adolfo López Mateos
Institutions
- Museo Nacional de Antropología
- Museo Nacional Mexicano
- Real y Pontificia Universidad de México
- Museo Nacional de las Culturas del Mundo
- Castillo de Chapultepec
- Museo Nacional de Historia
- Escuela Internacional de Arqueología y Etnología Americanas
- Artribune
Locations
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- Bosque de Chapultepec
- Plaza Mayor
- Via Moneda
- Casa de Moneda