The Regional Museum of Guerrero was inaugurated on March 13, 1987, through the joint efforts of the Government of Guerrero and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). In 2016, it reopened its doors to the public with renewed content based on the latest archaeological, historical, and anthropological research. Its galleries offer a new perspective on the region's geography, the pre-Hispanic era, Spanish colonial rule, the struggle for independence, the quest for territorial and political autonomy, and the social movements of the South, as well as its economic practices and cultural expressions. The visit concludes with a reflection on contemporary Guerrero, represented through the experience of a population shaped by Spanish, African, and Indigenous roots.

The societies that once inhabited what is now the state of Guerrero left behind a wealth of material evidence that reveals much about their historical and cultural development. The best-known periods span 3,000 years, from 1500 BCE to 1500 CE. Each era is distinguished by its architecture, ceramics, figurines, stone sculptures, and many other artifacts that reflect their technological advances, political and economic systems, and also their ways of life, funerary customs, artistic expressions, and religious beliefs. This gallery highlights some of the most significant achievements of Guerrero’s ancient peoples, showing both their cultural unity and remarkable diversity.

According to historical records, the Spanish conquest of what is now Guerrero was carried out through diplomacy and political agreements. Hernán Cortés and his forces used strategic negotiations to bring many Indigenous rulers under Spanish control. It is important to note that the term "conquest" does not always imply military defeat—it can also mean winning someone’s trust or persuading them to join a cause.

Many historical sources were lost with the destruction of Indigenous codices during the conquest. Although some chroniclers attempted to preserve pre-Hispanic cultural knowledge, the surviving documents mostly reflect the final stages before the Spanish arrival. The story told here presents what is currently known about the ancient peoples of Guerrero, drawing on various disciplines, such as linguistics. When combined with archaeological findings and physical anthropology, linguistic studies have helped identify the presence of specific human groups. While these sources may not offer exact dates, they do allow us to trace human migrations going back to very early times.

This section focuses on the struggle for independence in the South (1808–1821), the pursuit of regional autonomy (1821–1867), the economic activities of southern communities, and the development of the state of Guerrero during the liberal republic (1867–1910). Historical artifacts such as flags, banners, weapons, documents, lithographs, portraits, insignias, tools, and machinery bring these events to life. These are complemented by maps, models, and digital resources that help communicate the significance of this history to the nation’s broader story.

This gallery explores the role Guerrero’s people played in the Mexican Revolution. The topics are presented in chronological order: the Maderista uprising; governors Figueroa and Lugo; land and justice movements such as Salgadismo and Zapatismo; the resistance against the Huerta military regime; the Zapatista occupation of Chilpancingo; the rise of Constitutionalism; Álvaro Obregón’s actions in Guerrero; and the post-revolution reconstruction. Period photographs, historical documents, symbolic tools and weapons, and lifelike mannequins help visitors get to know revolutionaries such as Ambrosio Figueroa, Julián Blanco, Jesús J. Salgado, Silvestre G. Mariscal, Amelia Robles Ávila, and Julio Astudillo Gómez.

Guerrero’s vibrant cultural traditions are deeply rooted in the symbolic figure of the jaguar—also known locally as the "tigre." This ancient symbol dates back to the Olmec tradition and appears in cave paintings, petroglyphs, codices, mythology, legends, traditional masks, agricultural rituals, and even the coat of arms of the state of Guerrero. The jaguar is associated with earthly forces and with maize, the sacred and essential plant. For this reason, it is said that the people of Guerrero are "people of maize," and Guerrero is the "land of the jaguar-tiger." This gallery presents evidence of the enduring presence of the jaguar in the region’s cultural identity and development.