Museo Nacional de Antropología

The National Museum of Anthropology, located in the Mexico City, is the most visited museum in the country and an essential stop for travelers from around the world. It was born from the vibrant intellectual movement of the mid-20th century, when Mexico sought to reclaim the dignity and greatness of its Indigenous heritage. From that vision came the idea of creating a grand museum that would unite and preserve this cultural legacy, especially the treasures revealed through archaeology.
During the administration of President Adolfo López Mateos, this vision took shape. Architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez led the construction, completed between 1963 and 1964. Today, the museum is internationally recognized for both the richness of its collections and the originality of its design. Its deeper origins trace back to 1790, when the Sun Stone was uncovered near the Metropolitan Cathedral. In the years that followed, monumental pieces such as the Coatlicue sculpture, the Stone of Tízoc, and the colossal head of Xiuhcóatl were rediscovered, fueling a growing desire to study and protect Mexico’s ancient cultures.

The museum’s architecture is iconic. Its famous “umbrella” — a massive pillar crowned by a waterfall in the central courtyard — has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the Mexico City. Inspired by open-air Maya ceremonial forums, the building incorporates pre-Hispanic motifs and offers a journey that connects art, history, and science.

The museum is divided into two main areas, with the Anthropology section being one of the most remarkable. Located on the ground floor, it features eleven galleries dedicated to the peopling of the Americas, pre-Hispanic civilizations, and the cultures that shaped ancient Mexico — including the Teotihuacan, Mexica, Maya, Toltec, and many others. At its heart stands one of its most celebrated pieces: the Sun Stone, displayed majestically in the central hall.

Visiting the National Museum of Anthropology is to travel through thousands of years of history in the vibrant center of the Mexico City — a place where memory, beauty, and knowledge come together to tell the story of who we were and who we are.