This exhibition commemorates the origins of Mexico’s first museum, established during the presidency of Guadalupe Victoria. Through documents, prints, periodicals, and archaeological and ethnographic objects, visitors are introduced to the challenges and achievements that shaped its foundation—from defining spaces and collections to drafting regulations and preserving its holdings.

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The exhibition highlights how, despite administrative and conservation challenges, the first institutional collection of the nation was assembled. It also recalls key milestones in its evolution, such as the museum’s relocation in 1865 to the former Mint building—today the National Museum of World Cultures—where collections became more specialized and new galleries for history, archaeology, and anthropology were established.

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With a carefully curated selection of materials, this exhibition invites visitors to rediscover the genesis of an institution that laid the foundation for preserving and sharing Mexico’s cultural heritage.