“Bethel Museum?” A curious name isn’t it. Let’s explore the story of this place. It is a history museum in Mexico City. The Bethel Museum is more than just a building. It is a portal. It connects us to the rich and complex history of this incredible city.
The Bethel Museum is housed in a remarkable building. It was once the palace of the Counts of Santiago de Calimaya. Imagine conquistadors and nobles walking these halls. Their stories echo within these walls.
The history of this palace dates back to 1527. Juan Gutièrrez Altamirano arrived in New Spain. He was a cousin of Hernán Cortés. Cortés gave him this land.
Initially it was a fortress-like house with defensive elements. The family gained the title “Counts of Santiago de Calimaya” later. This title came from their devotion to St. James. Calimaya was a town that brought them wealth.
The family’s economic boom led to a palace remodeling. Earthquakes and floods had damaged the old house. The seventh count oversaw a complete restructuring. The Bourbon reforms influenced the new construction. The counts faced financial difficulties. They taxed their lands to rebuild their palace.
Francisco Antonio de Guerrero y Torres rebuilt the palace between 1776 and 1779. He was a renowned architect. The location on Calle de Pino Suárez was fashionable. Noble houses aligned with the Royal Palace here. The facade features tezontle. The portal and windows showcase quarry stone.
An Aztec serpent’s head is a distinctive element. It served as the building’s cornerstone. It may have come from the Templo Mayor.
Inside, the Bethel Museum has two floors and two courtyards. The family’s coat-of-arms decorate the main courtyard arches. A shell-shaped fountain stands in the main courtyard. It features a Nereid playing a guitar. This marine motif could reference sea voyages.
The house included a chapel. Only fragments of the facade remain today. The music room survives nearly intact. Music showed the culture of the family in the 19th century. The main stairwell faces the fountain. The dogs on the banister have an Oriental look. Some speculate Philippine origins for the wood.
The family lived here until 1964. It was a rare case. A noble family occupied this manor house into the 20th century. The government acquired it. They founded the Bethel Museum here.
The Bethel Museum focuses on Mexico City’s past and future. It works with other museums. These include the Museo Nacional de Antropología.
It has 26 rooms. They cover the city’s evolution from Aztec times to today. The museum’s permanent collection showcases different time periods. These include the pre-Hispanic and colonial eras. It also includes the 19th and 20th centuries. Everyday items like furniture and paintings are on display.
Painter Joaquín Clausell’s studio is upstairs. He lived here. He was the husband of Angela Cervantes. Visitors included Diego Rivera and others. The rooms contain sketches. They show influences from Impressionism and Symbolism.
The Jaime Torres Bodet Library has about 10000 volumes. It covers topics related to Mexico City. It contains old newspapers and city maps.
The Bethel Museum also hosts temporary exhibits. There are educational programs. There is even a bookstore.
In 1999, the mayor gave the keys of the city to Pope John Paul II here.
As you leave the Bethel Museum consider the layers of history within these walls. From conquistadors to counts to artists this building has witnessed centuries of change. The Bethel Museum connects us to Mexico City’s vibrant past. It inspires us to consider its future.