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All Mexico Mexico City National Museum of Interventions

National Museum of Interventions

A bullet-scarred monastery chronicles Mexico's turbulent history of foreign invasions.

Mexico City, Mexico

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Mictlān Tēcutli
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The National Museum of Interventions.   Thelmadatter/cc by-sa 3.0
The death mask of Emperor Maximilian.   Adamcastforth/cc by-sa 3.0
Bayonetted percussion rifles used by French soldiers in the French Intervention of Mexico.   Thelmadatter/cc by-sa 3.0
A French cannon from the the French Intervention of Mexico.   Thelmadatter/cc by-sa 3.0
Flags and weapons of Mexican forces of the Battle of the Alamo.   Thelmadatter/cc by-sa 3.0
Battle flag of the Mexican Nationalist/Republican forces from the French Intervention of Mexico.   Thelmadatter/cc by-sa 3.0
An ammunition cart (and rifle) from the 1910 Mexican Revolution.   Thelmadatter/cc by-sa 3.0
An antique sniper rifle from the 1910 Mexican Revolution.   Thelmadatter/cc by-sa 3.0
View of one of the courtyard gardens.   Thelmadatter/cc by-sa 3.0
One of the museum’s green areas, an orchard.   Thelmadatter/cc by-sa 3.0
Historic plaque commemorating the San Patricio Battalion from the Mexican-American War.   Wkboonec/cc by-sa 3.0
Courtyard of the monastery.   WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
  WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
  WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Behind the bullet-pocked walls of a former monastery, this unique museum chronicles the history of the foreign invasions and civil wars that Mexico has endured since the fight for independence from Spain. 

Even the walls of the monastery are a testament to this turbulent history. They are pockmarked with the holes made by musket balls, cannonballs, and bullets fired during the Mexican-American War, the 19th-century War of the French Intervention in Mexico, and the later Mexican Revolution of 1910. 

Given the theme of the museum, the atmosphere within the old monastery is unsurprisingly a rather somber and dark one, but there is much to see here that is of great interest and historical significance. The interior halls are lined with weaponry such as pistols, muskets, rifles, bombs, grenades, bayonets, and swords from these many conflicts. They are displayed alongside other military paraphernalia, including drums, bugles, telescopes, binoculars, equestrian gear, bloodstained flags, and uniforms.

Many of the artifacts on display have fascinating backstories; some highlights include the swords of the war of independence, the death mask of Emperor Maximilian (installed as Emperor of Mexico by the French in the 19th century), the commemorative plaque and flag of the San Patricio battalion (which fought against the U.S. in the Mexican-American War), the Mexican flags of the Alamo, Apache bows and arrows and knives, and the pistols of the Mexican Revolution.

But it's not all war and bloodshed here. You can also find several lovely ornamental and herb gardens throughout the winding halls of the museum that are worth exploring. These areas once served as the courtyard of the monks who occupied the monastery for almost three centuries, and are now kept for the enjoyment of visitors, somewhat ironically offering a peaceful sanctuary of calm in an otherwise hectic and chaotic borough of Mexico City.

Related Tags

War History Revolution Military History Museums Museums And Collections Local History Monasteries Military

Know Before You Go

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Mondays) and the entrance fee is 90 pesos.

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Added By

Monsieur Mictlan

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mlc, WhiskeyBristles

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  • WhiskeyBristles

Published

June 10, 2019

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National Museum of Interventions
12 20 de Agosto
Mexico City
Mexico
19.355002, -99.148795
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