English

9 interesting facts about Los Pinos

Los Pinos was the official presidential residence until December 1, now it's a museum and cultural center

Los Pinos - Photo: File Photos/EL UNIVERSAL
09/12/2018 |15:24Viridiana Ramírez |
Redacción El Universal
Pendiente este autorVer perfil

Los Pinos

is now open to the public! Here are 9 interesting facts about the former presidential residence:

1. After the conquest , in the location were Los Pinos was built, there was a mill where wheat was ground, which was named “ Molino del Rey ” (The King's Mill) and which belonged to the Spanish monarchy .

Newsletter
Recibe en tu correo las noticias más destacadas para viajar, trabajar y vivir en EU

2. In 1853, José Pablo Martínez del Río , a Panamanian doctor who belonged to one of the richest families of the 19th century, bought the mill and nearby lands to build a ranch that he later named “ La Hormig a”.

3. With the creation of the Paseo de la Reforma , which linked the Chapultepec forest and the Chapultepec castle with the rest of the city , the ranch had in a great location, which benefited the government , who was looking for a venue close to the castle , which then was the presidential residence , so that members of the cabinet could stay there. In 1916, La Hormiga was confiscated by Venustiano Carranza 's government.

4. When Lázaro Cárdenas won the presidency , he decided that the Chapultepec castle should be open to the public, therefore, he changed his residency to the ranch La Hormiga , which was later named Los Pinos in honor of an orchard in Tacámbaro, Michoacán, where he met his wife Amalia Solórzano .

5. In was until 1941 when the property was declared as the presidential residence , under Manuel Ávila Camacho 's orders. An English villa was built.

6. The former President Miguel Alemán ordered the construction of a second house in a French style . The interiors of the house known as “ Miguel Alemán home ” were decorated with bronze and marble statues , Czech crystal chandeliers , Talavera accessories, and Sévres porcelain .

7. During Adolfo Ruiz Cortines ' presidency, a third home was built, where the “ Presidents Hall ” is located, where you can find a series of portraits of the former presidents.

8. It's been the home of 13 Mexican presidents , except from Adolfo López Mateos.

9. Los Pinos is 56,000 square meters; 14 times bigger than the White House.

gm