Venture back in time with me. Imagine November 1919. President Venustiano Carranza rented this very house. He lived here for only six months before fleeing Mexico City.
This is the Casa de Carranza. Today, it stands as a museum. It protects the history of a tumultuous era.
The story of Casa de Carranza begins before Carranza himself. In 1908, the engineer Manuel Stampa built this house. It was a family home typical of the Porfirio Díaz era. Stampa had to abandon it in 1913 during the Ten Tragic Days.
General Felipe Ángeles occupied it. He used it as barracks for federal troops. Ángeles wanted to defend President Madero. He sought to thwart General Victoriano Huerta’s betrayal.
The Constitutionalist Revolution broke out. Carranza’s supporters fought against Zapata and Villa. The Stampa family returned to the house in 1915. They lived there until 1918.
In 1919, Carranza rented the property. But the Agua Prieta rebellion forced him to flee. Generals Plutarco Elías Calles, Adolfo de la Huerta, and Álvaro Obregón staged the rebellion. Carranza was assassinated in Tlaxcalantongo on May 21, 1920. His body was brought back to this house.
Later, Juan Barragán and Paulino Fontes acquired the property. They ceded it to Julia Carranza. She was the former president’s daughter.
The Casa de Carranza served other purposes too. It was rented to the embassies of France and El Salvador. Later, it became the office of the Association of Constitutionalist Deputies in 1917. It also housed a Library and Newspaper and Periodicals Library. This library held publications from 1914 to 1922. It also contained the original Plan of Guadalupe.
In 1961, the house was transformed into the Museo Casa de Carranza. The main exhibit is the house itself. It features original wooden floors. A dome and hand-painted, lead-framed glazed windows adorn the structure. Molded friezes and a flying buttress enhance the entrance hall. In February 1993, it joined the National Institute of Anthropology and History’s network of museums.
Inside Casa de Carranza, you can explore fourteen galleries. They display a collection of 3,400 objects. These include books, photographs, period furniture, and Carranza’s personal effects. The ground floor rooms include the lobby, entrance hall, and sitting room. The wake for Carranza was held in the sitting room. You will also see the dining room and kitchen. There is also a gallery with oil paintings by famous artists. A small conference hall hosts academic events.
Upstairs, explore the bedrooms, library, and historic rooms. These spaces showcase Carranza’s family life and political career. Special emphasis is placed on his greatest legacy. This is the promulgation of the 1917 Constitution.
The Casa de Carranza stands as a testament to a pivotal period in Mexican history. It honors the life and legacy of Venustiano Carranza. His impact on the nation is still felt today.