Alhóndiga de Granaditas facts for kids
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| Established | 1958 |
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| Location | Mendizabal 6, Historic District, Guanajauto, Guanajauto |
| Type | History museum |
The Alhóndiga de Granaditas (also known as the Regional Museum of Guanajuato) is a very old and important building in Guanajuato City, Mexico. It was originally built to store grain, like a giant warehouse. The name "Alhóndiga" comes from Arabic and Spanish words meaning "grain market" or "warehouse."
This historic building was constructed between 1798 and 1809. It was ordered by Juan Antonio de Riaño y Bárcena, a Spanish official in charge of the city during the time when Mexico was called New Spain. The Alhóndiga became famous during the first battle of the Mexican War of Independence. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and his army attacked it, leading to the legend of el Pípila. In 1988, the building became a World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Town of Guanajuato.
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Building Design and Look
The Alhóndiga de Granaditas is a great example of Neoclassical architecture. This style uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The first plans for the building were drawn in 1796 by Josė Alejandro Durán y Villaseñor, who was in charge of public works. Later, Josė de Mazo y Avilés made some changes to the design.
The building is quite large, measuring about 72 by 68 meters, and it stands 23 meters tall. It covers an area of 4,828 square meters. Because it's built on the side of a hill, two of its sides are surrounded by higher ground. From the outside, it looks very strong and simple, almost like a fortress or a castle. This is why people in Guanajuato sometimes call it a "castle." It has strong, simple columns in the Doric style and is built with two types of local stone: reddish and greenish.
Inside, there's a large central courtyard with a covered walkway. This walkway has columns in the Tuscan style, which are also simple and strong. Two staircases lead to the upper floor. The building has only two main entrances: a smaller one on the east side and a larger one on the north side. Both are decorated with columns.
Before Mexico became independent from Spain, the Alhóndiga was used for buying and selling grains like wheat and corn. It also served as a warehouse, a military base, and even a prison. Today, it is an important regional museum.
A Look Back at History
The Battle for the Grain Exchange
The Alhóndiga de Granaditas played a key role in the Mexican War of Independence. In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla led a large army of rebels, called "insurgents," who wanted Mexico to be free from Spanish rule. On September 28, 1810, Hidalgo's army threatened to take over Guanajuato City.
The city's Spanish governor, Riaño, and about 300 other Spanish people and wealthy Mexicans (called criollos) took shelter inside the strong Alhóndiga building. They believed its strong walls and supplies would protect them from the 20,000 rebels. They even brought in supplies and women to make food.
At first, the building held strong against the rebels' attacks. But soon, the insurgents surrounded the building and began throwing rocks. During this attack, Governor Riaño was killed. His death caused confusion among those defending the building.
The rebels then decided to burn down the eastern door to get inside. A brave local miner named Juan José Martínez, known as "El Pípila", was chosen for this dangerous task. Legend says he tied a large, flat stone to his back to protect himself from bullets and rocks. He then poured petroleum on the door and lit it with a torch. Once the door burned down, the attackers, led by El Pípila, rushed into the Alhóndiga.
After the battle, the city of Guanajuato was in chaos. This event made Hidalgo decide not to attack Mexico City, as he feared his followers would repeat the looting and violence seen in Guanajuato.
Later, the main leaders of this first uprising, including Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende, Juan Aldama, and José Mariano Jiménez, were captured and executed by Spanish firing squads.
In 1867, during the time of the French Intervention in Mexico, Emperor Maximilian ordered the Alhóndiga to be turned into a prison. It remained a prison for almost 100 years.
Between 1955 and 1966, a famous artist named José Chávez Morado painted amazing murals inside the building. These murals show the important history of the place. Finally, in 1958, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas officially opened as a museum.
A Place for Everyone
Next to the Alhóndiga is a large plaza with wide steps leading up to the building. Every year, during the International Cervantino Festival, this area becomes a huge outdoor stage. People can watch live performances, often music and dance from groups around the world, for free. There are also special reserved seats right in front of the stage.
Inside the museum, you can find exhibits and art that honor the heroes of Mexico's Independence. The museum also has a collection of amazing Pre-Columbian art (art from before Christopher Columbus arrived). This collection was given to the museum by José Chávez Morado and his wife in 1975.
See also
In Spanish: Alhóndiga de Granaditas para niños
- List of buildings in Guanajuato City
