On November 23, 1624, the Jesuit College of San Javier was built. On January 14, 1806, work began on the Coliseo de San Carlos, which was inaugurated on December 31, 1807, financed by Pedro José Guzmán and Joaquín de Quijano. In 1813, it was destroyed by fire. Ignacio Quijano purchased the property on June 16, 1831, and hired Guatemalan architect Manuel Gea to rebuild it. On December 27, 1879, its new owner, Francisco Zavala, changed the name to Teatro Peón Contreras, in homage to the Yucatecan poet and playwright who had achieved great literary success. On September 25, 1899, the Empresa Teatral de Mérida, S.A. was established, which purchased the theater. On May 5, 1900, after the demolition of the old theater, construction began on the current neoclassical building, designed by Italian architect Pío Pacentini. It was inaugurated on December 21, 1908, as one of the best theaters in the Republic at that time.