In the heart of downtown Guadalajara, across from the Rotonda park, stands the Museo Regional (Regional Museum). It occupies a beautiful 18th-century Baroque building of great architectural value. The building was originally built to house the Seminario Conciliar de San José. When the War of Independence broke out, it was used as army barracks, and a year later it served as a prison. After the Reform of 1857 it became a public library, and during the Porfirio Díaz era it was a boys’ high school. It was finally turned into a museum in 1918.
The Catarina Mammoth
Its 14 galleries on two floors display pieces that tell the history of the region. In the paleontology gallery, fossils show the prehistoric animals that once lived in the area. The highlight among the skeletons on display is the Catarina Mammoth, found southwest of Guadalajara in 1962.
The Huitzilapa shaft tomb
In archaeology, the Museo Regional displays one of the few archaeological sites found in Mexico that had never been looted: the Huitzilapa shaft tomb (tumba de tiro), dating from 300 BC to 400 BC, located in Huitzilapa, in the municipality of Magdalena.
The tomb, recreated in the museum, was almost 8 meters (26 feet) deep, with two burial chambers at the bottom. Six skeletons were found inside, three in each chamber. The tomb is believed to have belonged to a wealthy local ruler.
Explore the cultural richness of the Pearl of the West with our guide to the best museums in Guadalajara
Mexican and colonial painting
The museum’s painting gallery is devoted to works by artists from New Spain (colonial Mexico) and Mexico from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Highlights include works by Diego Rivera, Echave, Juárez, Rodríguez Juárez, Villalpando, Cabrera and Dr. Atl.
The museum also displays a rich collection of objects, tools and photographs of the customs of the Huichol and Cora Indigenous peoples, native to the region.
Learn about the history and architecture of the Hospicio Cabañas, one of Guadalajara’s great cultural landmarks.
Plan your visit to the Museo Regional de Guadalajara
The museum is at Liceo 60, next to the Cathedral, and has a coat check, restrooms and a museum shop. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is 65 pesos (MXN $65).
Free admission: students, teachers and seniors.
If you want to learn more about Guadalajara’s history, we recommend the Museo de la Ciudad (City Museum), a few blocks away. Not far away is the Mexican Army and Air Force Museum, also worth a visit, especially for aviation fans, since it displays historic Air Force aircraft. If you are traveling with kids or want a more high-tech experience, another nearby option is Museo JAPI in Zapopan, with 90 interactive exhibits and a flying theater.