1325

Mexico-Tenochtitlan is founded. Huitchilopotzli, the god of war, asks the Aztecs/Mexicas to look for an eagle standing over a cactus with a snake on its beak to establish their civilization. They find this image in the middle of a lake where nowadays is the Historic Center of Mexico City.

1450

Boom of the powerful Mexica Empire. Their territory covers the whole Mesoamerica, becoming one of the most populated territories of the time.

1519 – 1521

The Spaniards arrive in Mexico – Tenochtitlan and conquer the territory with the help

of the enemies of the Mexicas.

1535

The Viceroyalty of New Spain is established; our territory now belongs to the Spanish crown.

1551

The Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico is founded, becoming the very first university

in the Americas! Nowadays known as UNAM.

1810 – 1821

The Mexican Independence War takes place. We are young, wild, and free!

1824

The first constitution is created, and Mexico City becomes the capital of the nation.

1834

Charles Joseph La Trobe, a true mexplorer, falls in love with Mexico City and names it “The City of the Palaces”.

1847

Chapultepec Castle is attacked by the US army during the Mexican-American War.

1862 – 1867

The Archduke Maximilian of Austria becomes Maximilian I of Mexico. During his reign, he and his wife Carlota move to Chapultepec Castle. To connect the castle with the city center, the “Avenue of the Empress” is built, nowadays known as Paseo de la Reforma.

1858 – 1870

President Benito Juárez fights for the freedom of the republic against the
French invaders and the emperor Maximilian. He’s one of the most important presidents of
Mexico, our airport is named after him, and his face is in the $20 pesos bill.

1876 – 1911

Porfiriato era (a.k.a Porfirio Díaz’s dictatorship).

1904

Begins the construction of the very first art museum in Mexico: The Palace of Fine Arts(Bellas Artes). It would be finished 30 years later.

1910 – 1917

The lack of trust in the institutions and the unfair wealth distribution, led to the
Mexican Revolution.

1914

After defeating Porfirio Diaz, on December 8th Pancho Villa renames San Francisco
St. as Francisco I. Madero Street. Nowadays the busiest street downtown.

1922

The era of Mexican muralism begins with artists like Dr. Atl, Diego Rivera, José
Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Check out their murals at Bellas Artes
Palace, San Ildelfonso Collage and Chapultepec Castle.

1936 – 1957

Known as the “Golden Age of Mexican Cinema”, in this period Mexico City
produces more movies than Hollywood.

1968

Mexico City hosts the Olympic Games: two weeks before the inauguration, hundreds
of students are killed while they are protesting at Tlaltelolco. Every 2nd of October we
remember that bloody event and it’s consider an official day of mourning. We won’t forget!

1969

The subway system Metro is inaugurated. The logo and the iconography are created
by the American designer Lance Wyman.

1970 and 1986

FIFA World Cup is held in Mexico. The Argentine player Maradona scores
a goal with his hand (WTF?) at the Azteca Stadium, going down in the soccer history as
“The hand of God”.

1985

A strong earthquake (8 Richter magnitude) kills thousands of people and destroys
about 400 buildings in Mexico City. We reborn from the ashes.

2000

The city government begins a rescue plan for the Historic Center to transform it into
a safe and clean space for locals and visitors. YAY!

2010

Mexican cuisine is declared “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO,
due to its diversity, richness, complexity, and ancestral methods.

2016

Mexico City changes its political identity, becoming the 32nd state and losing its
denomination as the Federal District. So bye, bye México DF, and Hola Ciudad de México! (CDMX)

2017

On September 19th, during the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 earthquake, there’s
another strong earthquake (7 Richter magnitude). Yes, it happened on the exact same day.
Kinda scary, huh?

2018

Mexico City becomes the sixth World Design Capital of the world, and the very first
city from the Americas to receive this title.