Francisco Villa Museum facts for kids
The Francisco Villa Museum is also known as the Historical Museum of the Mexican Revolution. It tells the story of Francisco Villa, a famous leader from the Mexican Revolution. The museum is located in Chihuahua, Mexico. It is set up in the old home of General Francisco Villa and his wife, María Luz Corral de Villa.
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Exploring the Museum's Collection
The Villa Museum has many items from Villa's life. It also has souvenirs and papers from other leaders of the revolution. Mrs. Villa gave the museum and its collection to the Mexican government in 1981. This happened after she passed away.
You can see the saddles used by Villa, who was called the 'Centaur of the North'. These saddles were known as the McClellan saddle. They were strong and could fit any horse. The museum also shows his pistols in the armory. You can see his bedroom and living areas too. There are many photos about his actions during the Mexican Revolution.
A main display in the courtyard is a Dodge car. It has bullet holes from when Villa and his bodyguards died in 1923. This happened in Hidalgo del Parral. Villa is said to be buried in Mexico City at the Monumento a la Revolución.
The History of Villa's Home
Building and Remodeling the House
The house was built between 1905 and 1907. It is located in Chihuahua, Mexico. By 1911, the house was not big enough for Villa's needs. When Villa was governor of Chihuahua in 1914, he started to make the house bigger. He called it "Quinta Luz," which means "Light Estate," to honor his wife, Luz Corral.
Workers like Santo Vega, Hilario Berumen, and Manuel Portillio helped remodel the house. An Italian painter named Mario Ferrer also worked on it. The house was changed into three parts: the main house where Villa lived, a back house, and a courtyard.
Life and Legacy of the Villa Family
By 1915, the house became empty. Villa's family had to move to the United States for safety. After five years, Villa's wife returned because she missed her home. Villa followed her. He passed away in 1923.
Near the end of her life, Villa's wife was very old and sick. She could not take care of the house anymore. In 1981, Luz Corral said that when she died, the house should be given to the city. She wanted it to become a museum to honor Villa. The Ministry of Defense agreed to her wish. Mrs. Villa died on July 6, 1981, at 89 years old.
The house needed many repairs because it was in poor condition. The National Institute of Anthropology and History helped restore it. The museum opened again on November 17, 1982. Villa's personal items are shown in the office and music room. There are also photos from Villa's time. One important exhibit is the car he was in when he died.
What You Can See at the Museum
First Floor Exhibits
On the first floor of the museum, you can see everyday items. These include tools and furniture used by the Villa Corral family.
Second Floor Showrooms
The second floor has five special rooms.
- Hall of Arms: This room displays the weapons Villa used in his battles. You can see revolvers, rifles, machine guns, and cavalry swords. There is also a photo of Rafael Mendoza. He invented an air-cooled machine gun during the Mexican Revolution. It could fire 250 shots per minute.
- Tragic Room: In this room, visitors learn about General Villa's death. There is a map showing the path Villa took before he passed away. You can also see his death mask, which was made shortly after he died.
- Photographic Displays: Many photos are displayed throughout the house. They show different parts of Villa's life and the Mexican Revolution.
Gallery
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Reproduction of the first presidential chair.
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The common saddles that were used by Villa and his men.
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Villa's bedroom. Note pistol hanging from headboard.
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The 1919 Dodge roadster in which Villa was assassinated, displayed in the museum's courtyard.
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The weapons used by Francisco "Pancho" Villa
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Depiction of the Adelita, a famous corridos of the Mexican Revolution
See also
In Spanish: Museo Histórico de la Revolución para niños
