To understand the history of the Rivas Mercado House, we must go back to 1894, when architect Antonio Rivas Mercado designed and built it to serve as his family home and office/studio.
According to the site’s official website, it was in this house, located in the Guerrero neighborhood, that Rivas Mercado conceived several of his architectural works, including the Independence Column. That’s right! The story of the Angel of Independence began in this house.
In addition to serving as a family residence, the building housed the Washington Institute from 1937 to 1985. It subsequently stood abandoned for nearly 20 years due to the damage it sustained following the 1985 earthquake.
It was in 2008 that its restoration officially began. It took nearly 10 years of hard work, during which every effort was made to preserve the building’s original style. The first phase of the restoration was officially unveiled in 2017.
The walls and ceilings were restored, the stonework and ironwork were refurbished, and original spaces that had been damaged by the passage of time were brought back to life. Today, it’s a building that stands out for its architecture, and you can visit it in person.
Discover more about the history of the Casa Rivas Mercado on its guided tours
You can explore this iconic building (located at Héroes 45, Guerrero neighborhood, Cuauhtémoc borough) through guided tours. Tours are held on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. General admission costs $160 per person, and reservations are required.
Please note that, to help preserve the site, visitors are not permitted to enter while wearing high heels. Each tour lasts about one hour and 30 minutes.
You can schedule a visit through the venue’s official website. If you’re taking public transportation, the nearest stations are Metro Hidalgo and Metrobús Mina.
