This gallery explores the various factors that made Ciudad Juárez one of the most pivotal cities during the Mexican Revolution. Its location on the border and the construction of the Mexican Central Railway at the end of the 19th century—establishing the main channel of trade with the United States—fueled the growth of the Mexican population on both sides of the border.

Economic crisis, widespread discrimination against Mexicans in the U.S., and the urgency for political and social change in Mexico turned Ciudad Juárez into fertile ground for the emergence of liberal and Maderista groups whose ideas influenced large segments of the population. Amid this crisis, Mexicans who managed to settle in El Paso carried with them their language, culture, and traditions. In doing so, they began a process of identity-building as a strategy for cultural survival—a phenomenon now known as Mexican nationalism on the border.

Throughout this gallery, visitors will encounter objects and photographs that bear witness to the era and the motivations that drove thousands of compatriots to attempt to cross the border.

By the late 19th century, discontent was growing among large sectors of society due to widespread poverty, extreme social inequality, and the political repression of the Porfirio Díaz regime. In response, individuals from across Mexico with liberal ideals organized a national congress, which was attended by over a hundred organizations with the goal of achieving political and social change.

This gallery showcases the key figures of this ideological movement, their methods of resistance, and the influence they had on the armed uprisings that began in 1910.

Two years before the outbreak of the Revolution, Francisco I. Madero published The Presidential Succession, a book that demanded fair elections and an end to presidential re-election. Its widespread circulation marked the beginning of the fall of the Porfirian regime. After founding the Anti-Reelectionist Party, Madero toured the country, gaining momentum and popularity. Alarmed by his growing influence, Díaz’s government arrested him on charges of defaming the presidency.

Madero was imprisoned in Monterrey and later transferred to the San Luis Potosí jail, the place where the alleged offense occurred. This gallery focuses on Díaz’s failed attempt to stop the inevitable collapse of his regime and the key events that led to the rise of Maderismo.

In this small gallery, we explore the movements led by former Maderista leaders. After the signing of the Treaties of Ciudad Juárez, many revolutionaries became disillusioned. When Madero took office as president, leaders such as Emiliano Zapata in Morelos and Pascual Orozco in Chihuahua rebelled, feeling that Madero had betrayed the Revolution’s goals.

Doubts began to grow about whether the promised social and economic changes would ever come. These leaders intensified their efforts—Orozco with the Plan de la Empacadora, and Zapata with the Plan de Ayala.

In late 1910, Abraham González, revolutionary leader in Chihuahua, reached out to Francisco Villa, inviting him to join the movement. González’s goal was to recruit people experienced with weapons, brave, and familiar with the terrain where battles would unfold.

Villa quickly proved himself as a brilliant military strategist. Due to his early successes, Madero granted him the rank of colonel. Villa then formed his own army and played a decisive role in the Revolution’s success. Born in Durango as José Doroteo Arango Arámbula, he became known as Pancho Villa.

This gallery offers a closer look at this complex and iconic figure—celebrated by some as a hero, condemned by others as a villain. His name became a symbol, a rallying cry, and an inspiration for social struggles in Mexico and beyond.

This gallery—and the next two—offer a different lens through which to reflect on the events presented in the first five chronological galleries. Here, we focus on photography, setting, and memory.

Photography is presented as a historical document, and we highlight the photographers who captured the Revolution and left behind a lasting legacy. By the time of the Mexican Revolution, photography was already familiar to the public, thanks to technological advancements that made cameras smaller and more accessible.

Thousands of images of the Revolution in Ciudad Juárez remain to this day. The sheer volume, variety, and circulation of these photographs created a visual phenomenon without precedent in Mexican history—one that truly revolutionized how historical events are seen and remembered.

In 1911, over 40 photographers came to Ciudad Juárez to document the armed conflict. Among them was famed photojournalist Jimmy Hare, along with Homer Scott and Otis Aultman from El Paso. Their work is featured here to help us better understand the Revolution on the border. You’ll also see some of the photographic equipment they may have used.

This gallery features a scale model of the city where you can locate the physical spaces where key events of the Revolution took place—events narrated throughout the museum.

Recognizing these locations helps us appreciate the historical significance of Ciudad Juárez, and imagine how spaces we walk through today played pivotal roles in the history not only of this city, but of all Mexico.

The photographs and reports produced during the Revolution helped Mexicans better understand their country and shaped how they imagined the conflict. As readers followed political and military developments, illustrated reports allowed them to discover new aspects of Mexico and its people.

The shared idea—or imaginary—of the Revolution was first shaped by newspapers, postcards, eyewitness accounts, political testimonials, and of course, photography. Over time, these representations found their way into popular art, oral tradition, and official media such as school textbooks.

We invite you to explore several examples that will help you form your own vision of what the Mexican Revolution was and how it was experienced.

The building that houses the MUREF is a source of pride and an emblem of Ciudad Juárez, celebrated for its architectural beauty and historical importance.

Originally the border customs house, today it is home to the Museum of the Revolution on the Border (MUREF), a space that highlights Ciudad Juárez’s critical role in the Mexican Revolution. The building dates back to 1886, when the Mexican government decided to construct a new customs facility to accommodate the increase in trade brought about by the Mexican Central Railway.

The construction contract was signed in 1887. The original design also included federal offices for the Treasury and Postal Service in Paso del Norte. The new customs building was officially inaugurated in September 1889.