National Palace (Mexico) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Palace |
|
|---|---|
|
Palacio Nacional (Spanish)
|
|
The National Palace in Mexico City
|
|
| Former names | Palace of the Viceroy Palacio Imperial |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Location | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Construction started | 1522 |
The National Palace (Spanish: Palacio Nacional) is a very important building in Mexico City. It is where the Mexican government's main offices are. Since 2018, it has also been the official residence for the President of Mexico. You can find it on Mexico City's main square, called the Plaza de la Constitución (or El Zócalo).
This spot has been home to Mexico's leaders since the time of the Aztec Empire. Many parts of the palace today are built from the original palace of the Aztec leader Moctezuma II from the 1500s.
Contents
What the National Palace Looks Like
The National Palace is a government building with a red stone front. It takes up the entire east side of the Zócalo square. The building is over 200 meters (about 650 feet) long! Inside, you'll find offices for the country's money department and the National Archives.
Main Doors and Balcony
The front of the palace has two towers on its sides. It also has three main doors. Each door leads to a different part of the building.
The door on the south side goes to the Patio of Honor and the president's offices. This area is not open to the public. The north door is called the Mariana Door. It was named after Mariano Arista who had it built in 1850. Near this door, you'll find the Finance Ministry offices.
Above the middle door, facing the Zócalo, is a large balcony. Every year, just before 11 PM on September 15, the president of Mexico stands here. They give the Grito de Dolores, a special shout to remember Mexican Independence. As part of this ceremony, the president rings a bell that hangs above the balcony. This bell is the original one that Father Miguel Hidalgo rang to start the fight for freedom from Spain. It used to be in a church in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, but was moved here.
Around the bell, you can see the Mexican coat of arms. On each side, there is an Aztec eagle knight and a Spanish knight. These statues show how Mexican and Spanish cultures came together.
Inside the Palace: Murals and Courtyards
The central door leads into the main courtyard. This courtyard is surrounded by beautiful Baroque arches. The main staircase and walls of the second floor are covered with amazing murals by Diego Rivera.
Diego Rivera's Murals
The main stairwell has a huge mural called "The Epic of the Mexican People." It shows the history of Mexico from 1521 to 1930. This mural is very large, covering 450 square meters (about 4,800 square feet). Diego Rivera painted these murals between 1929 and 1935.
The mural is like a three-part story.
- The right side shows Mexico before the Spanish arrived. It focuses on the Aztec god Quetzalcóatl. Quetzalcóatl is shown as a star, a god, and a human. He teaches the Aztec people and then returns to the sky. This cycle shows the never-ending cycle of life. Rivera wanted to show the importance of Mexico's native roots.
- The middle and largest part shows the difficult Conquest. It also shows Mexico's fight for independence at the top. Below that, you can see parts of the American and French invasions. It also shows the Reform period and the Mexican Revolution.
- The left side of the mural shows Mexico in the early to mid-1900s. It criticizes some parts of society and shows a dream-like future. You can see famous people like Karl Marx and even Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera's wife. This part of the mural shows Diego's own ideas about Mexico's history and its native people.
Diego Rivera also painted 11 smaller murals on the middle floor. These show scenes from before the Spanish arrived, like the "Tianguis of Tlatelolco" (a market). He also painted the "Arrival of Hernán Cortés in Veracruz." These murals show different native groups like the Tarascos, Zapotecs, Mixtecs, and Huastecs. However, this series of murals was never finished.
Other Rooms and Areas
On the upper floor, there was once a Theatre Room for the viceroys (Spanish rulers). From 1829 to 1872, this room was used by the Chamber of Deputies (like Mexico's parliament). It was accidentally destroyed by fire in 1872. Important documents like the Constitution of 1857 and the Constitution of 1917 are now on display here.
The palace has fourteen courtyards. Only a few, like the Grand Courtyard, are open to the public. The National Palace also has the main State Archives, which hold many important historical papers. It also has the Biblioteca Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, one of the biggest libraries in Mexico.
In the north part of the building, you'll find the Treasury Room and the Benito Juárez Museum. Between them is the Empress Stairway. This stairway was built by brothers Juan and Ramón Agea. People doubted their work, so the brothers stood underneath while a whole army battalion marched down the stairs to prove they were strong!
The Benito Juárez Museum is in what used to be the Finance Ministry. There's a statue of Benito Juárez by Miguel Noreña. Inside the museum, you can see the room where President Juárez lived at the end of his life and where he passed away in 1872. His bedroom, living room, and study have been kept just as they were, with many of his personal items.
History of the Building
Moctezuma's "New Houses"
The National Palace stands on the site of Moctezuma II's "New Houses." This palace was where the Aztec emperor lived and worked. It was a grand building with two parts, decorated with marble and painted walls. The front had the Aztec symbol of an eagle holding a snake. It had three courtyards, indoor bathrooms, fountains, and gardens. The bedrooms had colorful tapestries made of cotton, feathers, and rabbit fur. The floors were smooth and covered with animal furs and woven mats. There were rooms for servants, staff, and guards, along with kitchens and storage. The Spanish explorer Cortés was very impressed by how rich and grand the palace was.
The palace also had a special room where a group of elders, led by the emperor, would solve problems among the people. After the Spanish Conquest, Moctezuma's New Houses were mostly destroyed, making them unlivable.
Cortés's Palace
Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conqueror, took over the land and buildings. He had architects rebuild the palace from 1521 to 1530. Cortés's palace was like a strong fort. It had openings for cannons and special spots for musketeers (soldiers with guns). The front had only two arched doors. Inside, there were two courtyards, and later, two more were added. The garden was very large, covering much of the south and southwest parts of the property. The palace had living areas, offices, and rooms for meetings. Cortés even held the first bullfights in New Spain in his main courtyard.
The Spanish king bought the palace from Cortés's family in 1562. It then became the home of the Viceroy (the Spanish ruler of New Spain). It stayed this way until Mexico became independent in the 1820s.
Viceregal Palace
In 1562, the Spanish Crown bought the palace from Martin Cortés, Hernán Cortés's son. It kept many of Cortés's palace features. It was known as the Palacio del Virrey (Palace of the Viceroy) or Casa Real de los Virreyes (Royal House of the Viceroys).
A traveler named Ilarione da Bergamo described the viceregal palace. He noted that it was not just where the viceroy lived. It also had many government offices, including the high court, legal offices, and even small prisons.
The palace was a symbol of Spanish power. So, when people were unhappy with the government, the palace was often a target. In 1624, it was set on fire. On June 8, 1692, the palace was almost completely destroyed. After this, Viceroy Gaspar de Sandoval had it rebuilt. After the rebuilding, the palace looked less like a fort and more like a Baroque building. Its old battlements were turned into windows with iron grilles.
The south door led to the "Patio of Honor," where the viceroy lived. The north door led to a smaller courtyard with the jail and guard rooms. The palace remained mostly the same until Mexico gained independence in the 1830s.
After Independence
After Mexico became independent, many leaders made changes to the Viceroy Palace. They also renamed it the "National Palace." Mexico's first government departments, like the Ministry of Finance and the Supreme Court, were set up here.
In 1845, the old Chamber of Deputies (parliament) was built. In 1850, Mariano Arista closed the old north prison door and built the current northern door. He also turned the north wing into barracks for guards.
.jpg)
In 1864, Maximilian of Habsburg, who was briefly emperor of Mexico, had three flagpoles put in front of the main doors. The Mexican flag was in the middle, and the flags of Austria and France were on the sides. He also added a grand marble staircase and decorated the public rooms. In contrast, President Benito Juárez chose to live in the north end of the Palace, not the traditional southern end.
In 1896, the famous bell that Father Hidalgo rang was moved to the National Palace.
Many changes were made when Porfirio Díaz was president. The clock on the roof was moved. The front of the building was covered to look like stone. Inside, many rooms were redecorated in a popular French style.
Between 1926 and 1929, a third floor was added during President Plutarco Elías Calles's time. The Dolores Bell was placed in a special spot above the central balcony. The front of the building was covered with red tezontle stone. Inside, a grand marble staircase was added in the central courtyard. This is where Diego Rivera later painted his famous murals. The old Chamber of Deputies, which burned down in 1872, was rebuilt as a museum. A statue of Benito Juárez was placed in the north wing. This statue was made from bronze cannons used in past wars. These changes gave the Palace the look it has today.
Palace as Presidential Residence
Most of the viceroys who ruled New Spain lived in this palace. After independence, two emperors of Mexico, Agustin de Iturbide and Maximilian I of Mexico, also lived here. Mexico's first president, Guadalupe Victoria, was the first president to live in the building. The last president to live there in the 1800s was Manuel González (1880-1884).
After that, presidents lived in Chapultepec Castle and later in Los Pinos. However, the National Palace became the official residence again in 2018, when Andrés Manuel López Obrador became president. Many famous people have stayed here, including Alexander von Humboldt and Simón Bolívar.
Damage Incidents
On November 8, 2014, some people damaged the palace's front and windows with graffiti. They also burned part of the Mariana Door. The National Institute of History and Anthropology (INAH) fixed the damage. On March 6, 2024, protesters used a truck to break down the wooden doors of the palace. They entered but were quickly removed by security.
Archaeological Discoveries
Because of construction work for Metro Line 2 and the sinking of buildings in the historic center, the palace's structure was damaged. Work was needed to strengthen its foundation. During this work, old column bases from the Viceroy Palace were found. They also found old cedar beams that were part of the first floor's foundation.
Recently, digging inside and next to the National Palace has uncovered parts of Moctezuma's "New Houses." These were the palaces that Hernán Cortés destroyed to build the current National Palace. Parts of a wall and a stone floor were found during renovations of the Museum of Culture, which is next to the Palace. It is believed that these are from the "Black House," a windowless room painted black. Moctezuma would meditate there based on what seers and shamans told him. This was part of a larger complex of five buildings that included the emperor's office, rooms for his children and wives, and even a zoo. More digging is planned for the future.
Why the Building is Important
The National Palace is a very important symbol for Mexico. It shows how Mexican culture is a mix of Spanish and Aztec influences. The old Aztec palace was destroyed, but the new Spanish palace was built using the same stones. This shows that Mexico is not fully Aztec or fully Spanish, but a blend of both. These same stones have been present during all of Mexico's major historical events.
On the night before Mexican Independence Day, the National Palace is the center of attention. The original bell that Father Hidalgo rang is there. The President himself gives the Grito de Dolores from its main balcony. The palace is not just a building; it's a place where Mexico's history comes alive and where friends of the country are welcomed.
Cats of the Palace
Wild cats have lived in the palace gardens since the 1970s. In 2024, there were 19 cats living there. In April 2024, President Andres Manuel López Obrador made a special announcement. He declared the cats to be "living fixed assets." This is the first time animals in Mexico have been given this title! This means the government's money department must provide food and care for the cats for their entire lives. One cat, named Zeus, became famous for appearing on TV during a press conference with President López Obrador in 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio Nacional (México) para niños
- List of colonial non-religious buildings in Mexico City
- List of colonial churches in Mexico City
Images for kids
-
Views of the Alameda and the Palace of the Viceroys of Mexico (before the 1711 reconstruction) (today the National Palace), anonymous painter, c. 1676, Mexico City. Museum of the Americas, Madrid
-
View of the Plaza Mayor (today Zócalo) in Mexico City (ca. 1695) by Cristóbal de Villalpando. The work shows the Viceroy's Palace still ruined by the 1692 riot in Mexico City. Corsham Court, England
-
19th century photograph of the National Palace, showing its appearance prior to the addition of the third level
-
The Dolores Bell waiting for its placement in 1935
.jpg)
Gallery
-
Mural by Diego Rivera
-
Mural by Diego Rivera in National Palace
-
Mural by Diego Rivera in National Palace
-
Mural by Diego Rivera in National Palace
-
Front of the National Palace
-
Portrait of Margarita Maza de Juárez in Juárez Museum
-
Juárez's study in the Juárez Museum
-
Juárez's dining room in Juárez Museum
-
Portrait of Agustín de Iturbide
-
Interior of the Nacional Palace
-
El Grito in 2023
-
Complex's library
-
Old hall of the Treasury at the National Palace
-
National Palace internal corredor
-
Palacio Nacional at night
-1.JPG)
-2.JPG)
-3.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
