A bit of history

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.