El Triunfo, Baja California Sur facts for kids
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El Triunfo is a small town in Mexico. It is located in Baja California Sur, within the La Paz Municipality. The town sits high up, about 483 meters (1,585 feet) (1,585 feet) above sea level. As of 2020, about 313 people live there. El Triunfo was once a very important mining town.
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History of El Triunfo
Mining began in El Triunfo in the late 1700s. Manuel de Ocio started the very first mine. For a time, the Spanish Crown even owned it. However, the mines did not make much money at first. This changed around 1878.
The Gold Rush Era
In 1862, people discovered silver and gold in the mountains of southern Baja California Sur. This discovery caused a "gold rush." Many miners from Mexico and the United States quickly moved to El Triunfo. Some of these miners had also been part of the famous California Gold Rush in 1849.
In 1878, a British company called El Progreso Mining Company took over the mines. This made the mines much more successful. El Triunfo soon became the largest city in Baja California Sur. More than 10,000 miners lived there during its busiest time.
A Cultural Center
During its most active period, El Triunfo was a lively cultural center. A famous teacher and performer named Francisca Mendoza taught and performed there. El Triunfo was also the first town in the region to get electricity and telephones. Pianos and other musical instruments were brought to the town from all over the world. Today, you can still visit a piano museum there.
The Mines Close
The mines in El Triunfo eventually closed down in 1926. After the mines shut, most of the townspeople left. They moved away to find work in other places. By 2010, the town's population was 327 people.
Today, El Triunfo is one of the best-preserved mining towns from the 1800s and early 1900s in North America. It is still an important place for archaeologists to study.
La Ramona Smokestack
A very famous landmark in El Triunfo is a tall smokestack. It is 47 meters (154 feet) high. This smokestack was built in 1890 for the El Progreso Mining Company. People call it "La Ramona." It got its name from Saint Raymond. The project was finished on his feast day.
For a long time, people thought the famous engineer Gustave Eiffel designed the smokestack. He designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, there is no clear proof that he was involved.
After more than 100 years, La Ramona became cracked and damaged. People worried it might fall during an earthquake or hurricane. In 2018, two groups worked together to fix it. These groups were the International Community Foundation (ICF) and Corredor Histórico CAREM, A.C. The repairs cost about US$200,000.
El Triunfo Today
In recent years, El Triunfo has been working to attract tourists. Many of the old buildings have been fixed up. They are now restaurants, museums, shops, and other places for visitors to enjoy.
See also
In Spanish: El Triunfo (Baja California Sur) para niños
