North America · Mexico · Mexico City
Chapultepec Castle
The story
History of Chapultepec Castle
The only castle in North America to have housed royalty, set on a hill above Mexico City and now the National Museum of History.
Mexico · Mexico City · Neoclassical
- Built
- 1785–1840
- Era
- Baroque
- Style
- Neoclassical
- Country
- Mexico
- Region
- Mexico City
- UNESCO
- —
- Coordinates
- 19.421, -99.182
In depth
The fuller history
The castle fell into disuse after the fall of the Second Mexican Empire in 1867. In 1867, the explorer James F. Elton wrote the castle was not "surpassed in beauty in any part of the world." In 1876, a decree established it as an Astronomical, Meteorological and Magnetic Observatory on the site, which was opened in 1878 during the presidency of Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada. The observatory was only functional for five years until they decided to move it to the former residence of the Archbishop in Tacubaya.
Key dates
- 1785In 1785, Viceroy Bernardo de Gálvez ordered the construction of a stately home for himself at the highest point of Chapultepec Hill.
- 1833In 1833 the building became the location of the Military College (Military Academy) for cadet training.
- 1847On September 13, 1847, the Niños Héroes ("Boy Heroes") died defending the castle while it was taken by United States forces during the Battle of Chapultepec of the Mexican–American War.
- 1867Following the reestablishment of the Republic in 1867 by President Benito Juárez and the end of the civil war to oust the French invaders and defeat their Mexican conservative allies, the boulevard was renamed Paseo de la…
- 1876Elton wrote the castle was not "surpassed in beauty in any part of the world." In 1876, a decree established it as an Astronomical, Meteorological and Magnetic Observatory on the site, which was opened in 1878 during the…
- 1944The museum was opened on September 27, 1944 during the presidency of Manuel Avila Camacho.
Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.
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