Tlaxcala House, Mexico City facts for kids
The Tlaxcala House is a special building in the historic center of Mexico City. You can find it at 40 San Ildefonso Street. This house shows us what a typical home for a middle-class family looked like way back in the 1700s. It was nicer than a common person's house but not as grand as a rich person's mansion.
Contents
What Does the Tlaxcala House Look Like?
The outside of the house has two levels. Most of its walls are covered in a deep red volcanic stone called tezontle. A grayish-white stone, called chiluca, is used to frame the windows and doors.
On the lower part of the house, the window shutters reach all the way up to the cornice, which is a decorative ledge. The main front door leads into an entrance hall. This hall then opens up to an inner courtyard, which is like a small open-air space inside the house.
Inside the Courtyard
Only three of the four sides of the courtyard have hallways and rooms. The fourth side is just a plain wall. The hallways on the north and south sides have pretty arches. The north hallway also has a ceiling with strong, heavy wooden beams. A staircase takes you up to the second floor. This stairway is lit up by a cool, eight-sided window in the ceiling, called an octagonal skylight.
Who Lived Here?
A famous writer named Jose Marti lived in this house around the end of the 1800s. There's a special plaque at the entrance of the building that tells everyone about this.
What Is It Used For Now?
Today, the Tlaxcala House is home to the Tlaxcala State delegation. This means it's like an office for the state of Tlaxcala in Mexico City. It helps Tlaxcala connect with the federal government.
See also
- In Spanish: Casa de Tlaxcala para niños
