Estévez Palace facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Estévez Palace
Palacio Estévez
Palacio Estévez
General information
Type	House of Government
Architectural style	Classic architecture
Location	Plaza Independencia, Montevideo ( Uruguay)
Construction started	1873
Completed	1874
Owner	Government of Uruguay
Design and construction
Architect	Manoel de Castel

The Estévez Palace (which means Palace Estévez in Spanish) is a historic building. It is located in Plaza Independencia, a main square in Montevideo, Uruguay. This palace was designed in 1873 by an architect named Manoel de Castel. It has a classic style, mixing Doric and Colonial designs. For many years, it was the main workplace for the President of Uruguay. Today, it is a museum. The museum shows important items and memories from the Uruguayan presidency.

History of the Estévez Palace

Early Ownership and Government Use

The Estévez Palace was first owned by a man named Francisco Estévez and his family. The Uruguayan government bought the palace in 1880. After that, it became the official workplace for the president. The first president to work there was Lorenzo Latorre in 1890. This made the palace a very important place for the country's leaders.

Changes in the Presidential Office

For many years, the Estévez Palace was the center of Uruguay's government. However, things changed after 1985. This was when Uruguay became a democracy again. President Julio María Sanguinetti decided to move the main presidential office. He moved it to the Liberty Building. This building had been used as the Ministry of Defence before.

Later, during the time of President Tabaré Vázquez, the presidential office moved again. It moved to the Torre Ejecutiva. This new building is right next to the Estévez Palace. Even though the presidents moved, the Estévez Palace still holds a special place in Uruguay's history. It now helps people learn about the country's past leaders.

See also

In Spanish: Palacio Estévez para niños