Museo Casa de Carranza
The Casa de Carranza Museum is distinguished both for its history and its architecture. The residence not only preserves the memory of Venustiano Carranza, but also offers a window into early 20th-century Mexico, when politics, culture, and social change were in full swing. It is interesting how the house reflects the contrast between the heyday of the Porfiriato, with its luxury and European sophistication, and the historical context of the Mexican Revolution, which broke with that established order.
The transition of the place from a private residence to a museum dedicated to constitutional laws and constituent deputies shows how the importance of the 1917 Constitution and Carranza's legacy in Mexico's political history has been recognized. This process not only has symbolic value, but also offers a space for reflection on the issues that marked that era, such as social rights, land, and education.
In 1908, engineer Manuel Stampa built his family home, with all the luxuries and comforts of the upper class during the Porfiriato era. In 1913, as a result of the Decena Trágica (Tragic Ten Days), the family was forced to abandon it, and it was occupied by General Felipe Ángeles as headquarters for the federal troops under his command, due to its proximity to the Colonia train station and with the idea that he would defend President Madero from the rebellion of Bernardo Reyes, Félix Díaz, Manuel Mondragón, and Victoriano Huerta.
By 1915, after the Villostas and Zapatistas were evicted from the capital, the Stampa family returned to the house and lived there until 1918. The following year, President Venustiano Carranza rented it and lived on the property before leaving Mexico City to establish the provisional government in Veracruz after the Agua Prieta rebellion led by Plutarco Elías Calles, Adolfo de la Huerta, and Álvaro Obregón. However, he was assassinated in Tlaxcalantongo on May 21, 1920. Carranza's body was taken to the house a few days later, where it was laid in state in the living room before being taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
In later years, the house was rented to the embassies of France and El Salvador. In the early 1940s, it was remodeled to become the Historical Museum of the Constitution and Constitutional Laws and the headquarters of the Association of Constitutionalist Deputies in 1917, Library, and Newspaper Library. Finally, in 1961, it became the Carranza House Museum, dedicated to the private and public life of the leader of the Revolution. The building is also listed as a historical monument, as it retains its original features such as wooden floors, domes, hand-painted leaded glass windows, molded friezes, and a beautiful flying buttress in the middle of the lobby, among other elements. In February 1993, it joined the network of museums of the National Institute of Anthropology and History.
In the museum's thirteen rooms with permanent exhibitions, visitors can admire a collection of 3,400 objects, including items such as books, photographs, period furniture, and personal effects belonging to the “Baron of Cuatro Ciénegas.” The rooms on the ground floor, arranged as galleries, include the lobby, the antechamber, the living room (where the dignitary's wake was held), the dining room, and the kitchen, as well as a gallery with oil paintings by Gerardo Murillo “Dr. Atl,” Salvador R. Guzmán, and Jorge González Camarena. On the upper floor, visitors can explore the bedrooms, personal library, and historical rooms containing information about Carranza's family life and political career, with special emphasis on his greatest legacy: the promulgation of the 1917 Constitution.
Every corner of the house seems to tell a crucial part of Mexico's history, especially during the tumultuous years of the Mexican Revolution. This place has witnessed not only the political conflicts of the time, but also the historical moments of the country and the lives of illustrious figures and revolutionary leaders.
The house itself has symbolic significance, not only because of Carranza, but also because of the different historical moments it witnessed. The fact that it was the scene of fighting between factions, Huerta's betrayal, and then the place where Carranza spent his last days, makes this house a direct witness to the transformations that defined modern Mexico.
Its connection to embassies and foreign policy, as well as its subsequent use as the headquarters of the Association of Constitutionalist Deputies, reflects the importance of the place as a symbol of constitutionalism and the values that drove the Revolution. In addition, architectural details such as the original wooden floors, dome, and stained-glass windows not only speak to the taste and opulence of the era, but also to how the house has managed to preserve its essence despite the political and social changes it has undergone.
The permanent exhibition of Carranza's personal belongings, his effects, period furniture, and paintings by artists give a very human touch to history, helping visitors connect not only with major historical events, but also with the daily lives and personal experiences of those involved. In addition, it is the space that houses the largest and most important collection of Carranza's belongings and pieces that are so significant to the country's history, such as the Plan de Guadalupe.
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Legacy
The Carranza, Reformer and Death historical room is dedicated to the final years of the life of the First Chief of the Constitutionalist Army and President of Mexico, as well as his legacy as a reformer of the country's institutions.
The Carranza, Reformer and Death historical room is dedicated to the final years of the life of the First Chief of the Constitutionalist Army and President of Mexico, as well as his legacy as a reformer of the country's institutions. In this space, visitors can learn about some of the political, social, and economic initiatives he promoted during his administration, as well as the tragic end to his life in 1920.
Among the most relevant pieces on display are the undershirt he was wearing at the time of his death, his glasses, a ring, one of the pens used to sign the Plan of Guadalupe and the Constitution, as well as a photograph of the Constituent Deputies of 1917.
Also noteworthy are the personal items associated with his final days, such as the cot, lamp, and belongings that accompanied him during his escape to Tlaxcalantongo (Puebla), where he was assassinated on May 21, 1920.
The room is complemented by a video about the assassination and pieces that evoke the impact his death had on national political life. The contrast between Carranza the reformer, determined to consolidate the rule of law, and the violence of his end is highlighted, reminding visitors that the construction of legality in Mexico was a complex and deeply contested undertaking.
Presidential office
The presidential office recreates Venustiano Carranza's workspace during his term in office, where political and administrative activities were carried out and the official correspondence of the First Chief of the Constitutionalist Revolution was managed.
The presidential office recreates Venustiano Carranza's workspace during his term in office, where political and administrative activities were carried out and the official correspondence of the First Chief of the Constitutionalist Revolution was managed.
The office retains the original desk, accompanied by period furniture, shelves, and chairs, reflecting the organization of the government from his home.
Among the objects on display are official documents, seals, pens, inkwells, and files that show how political decisions were managed and official decrees and letters were drafted. Clocks, works of art, and personal items are also on display, providing insight into Carranza's daily life and professional environment. This space offers a comprehensive view of the presidential work and the historical atmosphere in which key events of the Mexican Revolution and the consolidation of the Constitutional State took place.
Among the most important objects are a portrait of Carranza by Gerardo Murillo, Dr. Atl, as well as diplomatic gifts, including the lacquer box and album from Japan, gifts from Emperor Yoshihito.
Office of the Constituent Deputies of 1917
This office recreates the space where members of the Constituent Congress met to draft the 1917 Constitution. It was the place where deputies deliberated and worked to consolidate the legal framework of the Mexican Revolution.
This office recreates the space where members of the Constituent Congress met to draft the 1917 Constitution. It was the place where deputies deliberated and worked to consolidate the legal framework of the Mexican Revolution.
This space displays group photographs of Venustiano Carranza with the members of the Constituent Congress, as well as individual portraits, including one by Constituent Congress deputy Salvador Guzmán, which allow visitors to appreciate the importance of these figures in Mexico's political history.
The office reflects the working atmosphere and conditions in which debates and decisions fundamental to the nation were carried out.
Workshop Area
The workshop space at the Casa de Carranza Museum is a place dedicated to creation, learning, and community participation.
The workshop space at the Casa de Carranza Museum is a place dedicated to creation, learning, and community participation. This space hosts educational, artistic, and recreational activities aimed at audiences of all ages, seeking to bring visitors closer to the history of the Mexican Revolution, the life of Venustiano Carranza, and other cultural expressions in a dynamic and creative way.
Through these workshops, the museum reinforces its educational mission and turns the visitor experience into an interactive process, where history and anthropology are linked to practice and imagination.
Manuel Stampa Gallery
Located in the basement of the museum, this space is dedicated to cultural dissemination and engagement with different audiences. Its architecture is designed to host small temporary exhibitions.
Located in the basement of the museum, this space is dedicated to cultural dissemination and engagement with different audiences. Its architecture is designed to host small temporary exhibitions. In this space, you can also see the area assigned to service personnel and the early 20th-century cellars, as well as the construction system of the house through the vaults.
Like the gallery, this space not only enhances the visitor experience, but also turns the museum into an active space, where history meets new perspectives and sensibilities, open to other themes of not only a historical nature, but also anthropological.
Constituent Assembly of 1917 Library
The Specialized Library is a space dedicated to preserving, studying, and disseminating written records of the Mexican Revolution, the life of Venustiano Carranza, and the Constituent Congress of 1916-1917.
The Specialized Library is a space dedicated to preserving, studying, and disseminating written records of the Mexican Revolution, the life of Venustiano Carranza, and the Constituent Congress of 1916-1917. Its name pays tribute to the deputies who, meeting in Querétaro, drafted the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917, which remains in force to this day.
This collection brings together books, documents, newspapers, brochures, and archival materials that allow the public and researchers to learn about the political and social processes of revolutionary Mexico. Its holdings include original editions and studies on the constituents, parliamentary debates, Carranza's legislative work, as well as collections that address national history from the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century.
In addition to its function as a reference center, the Library is a space for living memory: academic activities, book presentations, and reading promotion programs are held here, strengthening the museum's role as a disseminator of the country's documentary heritage.
In this way, the 1917 Constituent Library not only preserves fundamental sources for understanding Mexico's political history, but also honors the men who, through their work in Querétaro, laid the legal foundations of the modern nation.
Hermila Galindo Auditorium
The Auditorium of the Casa de Carranza Museum, located on the ground floor of the residence, where the superintendent's house, the stables, and the garage were located, is a space dedicated to cultural and academic dissemination.
The Auditorium of the Casa de Carranza Museum, located on the ground floor of the residence, where the superintendent's house, the stables, and the garage were located, is a space dedicated to cultural and academic dissemination. This venue hosts conferences, book presentations, chamber concerts, and educational activities that reinforce the museum's role as a center for historical research and dissemination.
In addition to its function as a forum, the Auditorium houses an important part of the museum's historical collection. Among the pieces on display are the facsimile made on metal plates of the 1917 Constitution and the work El nacimiento de la patria (The Birth of the Fatherland) by Jorge González Camarena, among others.
In this way, the Auditorium not only serves as a space for contemporary encounter and dialogue, but also integrates itself into the museographic discourse as a venue that connects the present with the historical legacy of Carranza and the decisive years in which the modern nation was consolidated.
Julia Carranza Gallery
Located on the upper floor of the Auditorium, this space is dedicated to cultural dissemination and outreach to different audiences. Its architecture was designed to host temporary exhibitions related to the anthropological work of the INAH.
Located on the upper floor of the Auditorium, this space is dedicated to cultural dissemination and outreach to different audiences. Its architecture was designed to host temporary exhibitions related to the anthropological work of the INAH.
This space presents exhibitions that complement the museum's permanent collection, whether historical, artistic, or documentary in nature, as well as collaborative projects with other institutions that expand the museum's reach. The Gallery serves as a bridge between the legacy of Venustiano Carranza and contemporary expressions.
In this way, the Gallery not only enriches the visitor experience, but also transforms the museum into an active space, where history dialogues with new perspectives and topics of historical and anthropological interest are addressed.
Exterior gallery
The façade of the Casa de Carranza Museum is not only the elegant face of this Porfirian mansion: it is also a living space that is constantly changing.
The façade of the Casa de Carranza Museum is not only the elegant face of this Porfirian mansion: it is also a living space that is constantly changing. Its exterior walls become an open-air gallery, where the museum shares temporary exhibitions with passersby that engage with history, art, and contemporary culture.
Walking in front of the museum means encountering images, documents, and themes that invite you to stop, look, and reflect. In this way, the outdoor gallery brings heritage to new audiences, taking part of the collection and cultural offerings beyond the interior rooms.
Thus, the museum's façade ceases to be merely the entrance to a historic residence and becomes a window open to memory and creativity.
- DirecciónKarla Jaqueline Peniche Romerokarla_peniche@inah.gob.mx+52 (55) 55466494 Ext. 414100AdministraciónGladys Olivia Tenango Salgadogladys_salgado@inah.gob.mx+52 (55) 55466494 Ext. 414101InvestigaciónLeopoldo Trejo Barrientosleopoldo_trejo@inah.gob.mx+52 (55) 55466494 Ext. 414104MuseografíaLaura Patricia De León Gonzálezlaura_deleon@inah.gob.mx+52 (55) 55466494 Ext. 414102Comunicación EducativaPatricia Alfaro Hernándezpatricia_alfaro@inah.gob.mx+52 (55) 55466494 Ext. 414106BibliotecaRocio Araceli Sánchez Hernándezrocio_sanchez@inah.gob.mx+52 (55) 55466494 Ext. 414109SeguridadCristina López Llaveroscristina_lopez@inah.gob.mx+52 (55) 55466494 Ext. 414107
