The mural depicts different moments in Mexican history through historical, political, and cultural figures gathered in the Alameda Central. The first section features scenes from the Conquest and the colonial era, with figures such as Hernán Cortés and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. The central section highlights Frida Kahlo, Rivera as a child, José Guadalupe Posada, and the famous La Catrina. The final section depicts scenes from the Mexican Revolution, peasant uprisings, and a critique of corruption and power.

In 1960, the mural was moved to the hotel lobby using a special metal structure. After the 1985 earthquakes, the Hotel del Prado was nearly destroyed, but the mural was saved thanks to that structure. It was later moved to a new building at the intersection of Balderas and Colón streets, where the Diego Rivera Mural Museum opened in 1988.

The work also sparked significant controversy for including the phrase “God does not exist” next to Ignacio Ramírez. This led to protests from conservative and religious groups, and some people even damaged the mural. Due to the scandal, Rivera decided years later to replace the phrase with a less direct reference to the Nigromante’s original speech.