National Museum of Anthropology (Mexico)

The National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City houses one of the world’s largest collections of pre-Columbian artifacts from across Mexico and Mesoamerica. The museum building, completed in the 1960s, was purpose-built to display regional archaeology and ethnography in a series of large halls.

Exhibition halls are organized by cultural region and include major pieces such as large Aztec sculptures, Maya stelae and carved monuments, and extensive collections from Oaxaca, the Gulf Coast and the Central Highlands. The museum also contains a central courtyard with an architecturally prominent umbrella-like fountain and the famous Aztec Sun Stone on display nearby.

The museum opened in 1964 and was designed to present Mexico’s archaeological heritage with modern gallery spaces and conservation facilities. Since opening it has served as a national repository, research center and public museum for archaeological material.

Located in Chapultepec Park on Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma, the museum sits on the city’s central axis near other cultural institutions and is easily reached from downtown Mexico City by public transport.

• Opening and architecture: The museum opened in 1964 and was designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez; its central courtyard and large umbrella structure are signature features.
• Major object and visitor rules: The original Aztec Sun Stone (Calendar Stone) is displayed in the museum's central area; photography rules can restrict flash and tripods in some galleries.

What to See #

• Central courtyard (El Paraguas): Central courtyard and iconic stone umbrella supported by a single column, located at the main entrance and visible from the central plaza.
• Regional exhibition halls: A series of regional halls that group artifacts by cultural area, including the Mexica (Aztec) and Maya collections with major sculptural pieces.
• Temporary exhibits and research spaces: A gallery for rotating exhibits, educational displays and an on-site conservation and research area serving archaeologists and the public.