Although on the outside it looks like another cafe on Regina Street, this building houses so much more. In addition to having a historical archive, exhibition hall, and a courtyard that functions as a forum, the first floor hosts a poignant museum honoring the thousands of people who disappeared in Mexico as a result of state violence. Its rooms tell the history of state terrorism in Mexico, highlighting government-sponsored assassinations, torture, and police abductions, starting with the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre.

One of the most difficult rooms to experience is the testimony room. There, you’ll hear recorded testimonies from people who managed to survive the state-sanctioned torture. An additionally emotionally intense room is the one decorated with portraits of Mexico’s disappeared who remain missing to this day. Another room details the work of the Eureka Committee, a group founded by the relatives of the disappeared. The group has been active in the fight against state terrorism since 1977.

The walls and grounds of the museum are filled with reminders of the ongoing violence. There are benches carved with testimonies from victims of the 2006 War on Drugs, and there are photos of the 43 students who disappeared in September 2014 on display. The museum also holds conferences, presentations, and temporary exhibits to ensure the public remains aware of past and present state terrorism.