Have you ever wondered where Mexico City’s most famous residents find their final resting place? The Panteón Civil de Dolores is not just any cemetery. It is the largest in Mexico. It spans an enormous space between the second and third sections of Chapultepec Park.
Let’s step inside the Panteón Civil de Dolores. It is more than just graves. Here lies a vast collection of sculptures, carvings, mausoleums, and funerary art. One area stands out. It is the Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres. This is the “Rotunda of Illustrious Persons”. Any list of famous Mexico City residents buried here is impressive.
The history of the Panteón Civil de Dolores dates back to the 19th century. At that time, the church controlled all cemeteries. The Mexican Government granted permission to build this one. This was a first. The permission was granted to the Benfield, Brecker Company in 1874. The land was part of Benfield’s ranch. It had been called the Tabla de Dolores. This means something like “Field of Sorrows”. The cemetery took its name from this. The government purchased the plot in 1879. Since then, it has been a public cemetery. Sadly no new graves have been assigned since 1975. Space simply ran out.
The Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres is special. It is the final resting place for painters and artists. You will find David Alfaro Siqueiros, Diego Rivera, and José Clemente Orozco here. María Izquierdo, Gerardo Murillo “Dr. Atl,” and Juan O’Gorman are also here. Some very distinguished musicians rest here too. They include singer Ángela Peralta and composers Manuel M. Ponce. Agustín Lara, José Pablo Moncayo, and Silvestre Revueltas are interred here too. Diplomats and poets also have their places. Among them are Ignacio Manuel Altamirano and Rosario Castellanos. Amalia González Caballero, Ramón López Velarde, and Jaime Torres Bodet are here as well. Emma Godoy also rests in this hallowed ground. Actresses Virginia Fabregas and Dolores del Río have their places here. Military and political leaders are present. Pablo Letechipía was the first person buried within the Rotunda. Also here is the anarchist Ricardo Flores Magón.
The Panteón Civil de Dolores is open from Thursday to Sunday. The opening hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Panteón Civil de Dolores contains about 700,000 tombs. Many have multiple occupants.
Originally, the Rotunda was named “The Rotunda of Illustrious Men”. President Vicente Fox changed the name in 2003. It became “Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres”. This means “Rotunda of Distinguished Persons”. This was because the Rotunda has many female occupants. The Rotunda contains the graves of three former presidents. Many heroes from the Mexican Revolution are here too. Writers, artists, and scientists also rest here.
The most serious problem at the Panteón Civil de Dolores is limited space. No new grave sites have been established since 1975. Only those who purchased a site in perpetuity before 1977 can bury relatives there. Even then, the remains must be stacked above those already interred. Municipal laws permit a maximum of five bodies per plot. Some tombs have as many as ten.
The cemetery encourages cremation as an alternative. The crowded cemetery has created a higher demand for exhumations and cremation services. The Panteón Civil de Dolores has four crematoria. They average about four cremations daily. However, about ten traditional burials still happen each day. All are in graves that have been used before.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History lists the cemetery as an historical monument. This is due to the many iconic people interred there and the age of the property.
As you leave the Panteón Civil de Dolores, consider the lives and legacies preserved within. It is a place of history, art, and remembrance. It is a vital part of Mexico City’s cultural heritage.