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 .
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.
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