Old Customs Building, Mexico City facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Old Customs Building
Antigua Aduana
Facade of the building
General information
Architectural style	New Spanish Baroque
Address	República de Brasil #31, Centro Histórico, Mexico City. C.P. 06029
Construction started	1729
Completed	1735
Owner	Secretariat of Public Education

The Old Customs Building is a historic building in Mexico City. It stands on the east side of Santo Domingo Plaza, just north of the city's main square, the Zocalo. This area was once owned by important people, including the Marquis of Villamayor.

The Royal Customs office was a government department that managed goods brought into New Spain (colonial Mexico). It also collected taxes on these goods, which was the main way the government made money. The office moved into the Villamayor house in 1676 because it was in a great spot next to Santo Domingo Plaza. The government later bought the house and rebuilt it in 1730. This is the building we see today.

Eventually, the Customs office in Mexico City closed. In the early 1900s, the building became part of the Secretariat of Public Education. It still serves as offices for this government agency today.

A Look Back: The Building's History

Early Days: Land and Trade in New Spain

After the Spanish Conquest, land on the east side of Santo Domingo Plaza was given to important figures like Captain Don Cristobal de Oñate and the Marquis of Villamayor. They all built homes there. As the colony of New Spain grew, trade with places like the Philippines and Spain became very important.

This trade was the main source of tax money for the Spanish Crown. Because of this, the Royal Customs Office was a key part of the government for hundreds of years. This office also started collecting sales taxes for the colony in 1558.

Moving the Customs Office to Villamayor House

The Customs office was first located on 5 de febrero Street. But in 1676, it moved to the houses of the Marquis of Villamayor. This family rented their property to the government for 400 pesos a year while they lived in Spain.

The property had been badly damaged by a big flood in 1629. This flood made most of the city's buildings unusable for a while. Even with the damage, the site was chosen because it was large and right next to Santo Domingo Plaza. This plaza was a good place for people to wait, especially when ships arrived from Spain or the Philippines with new goods.

Buying the Land and New Construction

In the late 1680s, King Carlos II gave permission to buy the Villamayor property. At that time, it belonged to Francisca Maria Bellvis, who held it for her son, Joseph Vicente Bellvis y Moncada. He lived in Valencia. She agreed to sell the property for 29,186 pesos.

In 1723, it was estimated that rebuilding the house would cost about 40,000 pesos. Pedro Arrieta was put in charge of the project. Construction of the building we see today began in 1729 and finished in 1731. The nuns of the nearby La Encarnación convent were not happy about this project. They had wanted to buy the land themselves. They also worried that a larger building would attract thieves and block sunlight from their property.

Challenges and Changes Over Time

Soon after the new building was finished, structural problems began. Today, only the outside walls, the main stairs, and the columns in the patios are original. The rest has been replaced over time during many repairs.

When the Royal Customs Office was there, traffic around Santo Domingo Plaza increased a lot. The new building was designed with two large entrances on opposite sides. This allowed teams of mules to enter and exit, but it didn't completely solve the traffic problem. The building was made bigger again in 1777. More remodeling work was done in the early 1790s by architect Miguel Constanzó.

After Independence and New Uses

After the Mexican War of Independence, the Customs building continued to collect taxes, though it was reorganized in 1825. In 1887, President Porfirio Diaz hosted a huge party and dance there to celebrate his third term in office. The building was decorated with carpets, plants, sculptures, fountains, and colorful lights.

However, soon after this, internal customs fees were stopped. The building later became home to the Federal District Treasury. This is why it's now called "Vieja Aduana," which means "Old Customs."

Joining with Education and Art

As the Secretariat of Public Education grew in the early 1900s, the old Customs building was added to the agency. Several nearby houses were also joined to it. This is how all the buildings on this block became connected in the 1930s. About ten years later, the famous artist David Alfaro Siqueiros began painting a mural on the main stairwell. The building had another round of restoration and remodeling work by Jorge Medellin in 1991.

What the Building Looks Like Today

The Old Customs Building has a fairly simple design. The outside walls are made of tezontle, a dark red, porous volcanic stone. The doorways, windows, and balconies are made of cantera, a white stone.

Inside, there are two large courtyards with big columns. The main stairwell features a mural by Siqueiros called “Patricios y Patricidas” (Patricians and Patricides). He started this artwork in the mid-1940s, but it was never fully finished.

Images for kids

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  Facade of the building

See also

In Spanish: Edificio de la antigua Aduana de la Ciudad de México para niños