16 de Septiembre Avenue at the corner of Juárez Avenue, no number
Centro neighborhood, Zip Code 32000
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
A famous building because, in 1909, the meeting of Porfirio Díaz and William Taft, President of the USA, was held here. It also served as headquarters for General Madero in 1911, for Francisco Villa in 1913 and Venustiano Carranza in 1914. It has a collection of photographs of the Maderista uprising taken by reporters from El Paso.
A famous building because, in 1909, the meeting of Porfirio Díaz and William Taft, President of the USA, was held here. It also served as headquarters for General Madero in 1911, for Francisco Villa in 1913 and Venustiano Carranza in 1914. It has a collection of photographs of the Maderista uprising taken by reporters from El Paso.
There is a building in Ciudad Juárez, known as the former Customs Office, which today houses the Museo de la Revolución en la Frontera (Museum of the Revolution on the Border, MUREF). The building stands between the streets of 16 de Septiembre and Juárez in the center of the metropolis. It represents the border customs, as well as being an icon and the architectural pride of Ciudad Juárez. This historic building—the second most important after the Guadalupe Mission, finished in 1688—was designed by the prestigious architect George E. King in 1887 and built by the engineer Manuel Garfias. It was opened on September 10, 1889.
The building was used for border customs until 1965, when the office was reinstated to the Bridge of the Americas, where it remains. The building which is now home to the MUREF was in disuse and abandoned for twenty years, but in 1985 the Government of the State of Chihuahua and the National Institute of Anthropology and History decided to restore it to set up a museum. A series of renovations were carried out to adapt the old building into the Historic Museum of Ciudad Juárez in 1990. It was finally unveiled on May 20, 2011. The building’s beauty and history make it one of the main attractions of this museum as a leading player in decisive events throughout Mexico’s history: in October 1909, it received the presidents Porfirio Días and William Taft to hold the first official conversation between presidents of Mexico and the United States; in May 1911, after taking Ciudad Juárez, Francisco I. Madero set up his offices there, as headquarters of the temporary presidency of the Republic, according to the San Luis Plan; in 1913 Francisco Villa set up his headquarters there, and in 1924 it once again accommodated the temporary presidency of the revolutionary government of Venustiano Carranza, as stipulated by the Guadalupe Plan.
The MUREF has accumulated a large collection of press and other types of photographs which it displays in part and replaces periodically. Many of them are very rare, and all of them are revealing. They are true historic documents originating from both Mexico and the United States, and many of them show events from the Mexican Revolution. They range from institutional, academic collections (the majority), to individual and even anonymous origins, complemented by numerous newspapers, posters, leaflets, brochures and objects. The exhibition rooms cover the following themes: 1. Mexican nationalism on the border; 2. Organization of the Mexican Liberal Party; 3. The triumph of Maderismo; 4. Radicalization of the struggle; 5. Francisco Villa; 6. The view of the Revolution; 7. The border as a setting; 8. Imaginaries; 9. The border customs post as protagonist and witness.
In this way, the Museum tells the story of Mexico’s history and shows the importance of people represented in the Mexican Revolution in the north of Mexico, as well as ordinary folk who were engaged in the struggle more than anyone. In particular, Francisco I. Madero, Francisco Villa, the followers of both leaders, the photographers of the Revolution and this building are the protagonists of this museum which, through its permanent exhibition rooms, allows both the people of Juárez and visitors from elsewhere to get to know the history of the city and of the whole region. It also helps the people of the north of Mexico to strengthen their roots and identity.
This gallery explores the various factors that made Ciudad Juárez one of the most pivotal cities during the Mexican Revolution.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 building that houses the MUREF is a source of pride and an emblem of Ciudad Juárez, celebrated for its architectural beauty and historical importance.
