The Museums of Guanajuato

If you have any interest at all in Don Quixote then you must see the museum here if you do nothing else. I must admit my bias for this museum since I fell in love with the 17th century novel written by Miguel Cervantes. I could sit in there for hours and days and never grow tired of it. I love the place.

Even if you haven’t read the novel give it a shot. It is worth it. You can find abridged versions and synopsis almost anywhere. Even renting the video would give you a small idea of what all the hubbub is about when it comes to Don Quixote.

The Mummy Museum, as I mentioned in chapter three is a must see. This will especially true if you are traveling with your kids. Be sure to buy a postcard from the little gift shop. They are a gas!

Really, Guanajuato is a museum town and you can easily spend most of your vacation time finding them and going through them. Hire a tour guide who will get you to their locations in a timely manner and who will have all sorts of comments to make about the different museums in the city. Whether the guides are really knowledgeable is highly suspect. But, they are excellent entertainment. They will dazzle you when they show you the dead vampire in the Mummy Museum.

One story that the tour guides you hire from the tourist office, is that of the Mummy Museum. I’ve been able to verify this story from my friends who grew up here and actually can remember the rolling heads of the mummified corpses. Their arms would fall off right in front of you, too!

Our friend Mario, who is a college professor, told us his granny used to take him to see the Mummies. In those days, they were not in their glass coffins in which they are now displayed. Oh, no!

They were lined up in this long and narrow basement with a small 20 watt light bulb lighting the hallway. The bodies were cable bolted to the walls and lined up in a neat row. (Someone had quite a sense of humor.) You would descend this spiral staircase into this smelly, damp, and very spookily lit basement. Water dripped.

Anyway, often vibrations or if the truth was known the kids touching the bodies, caused them to fall apart even in their mummified state. Heads would drop to the floor with a thud adding to the pathos of the place.

It is something I’ve seen once and that was once too many.

So, there you go. Enjoy!

Guanajuato Museums

Diego Rivera House and Museum : Birthplace of the famous muralist Diego Rivera. The first floor is furnished as it was when his family lived there and the upper floors house a collection of his work, as well as the work of the other artists he inspired.

Alhóndiga de Granaditas : This museum of Mexican history and archeology is housed in a massive city granary built between 1798-1809. This was the place where Spanish loyalists sought refuge during the first battle for Mexican Independence. It was besieged by Miguel Hidalgo in 1810 at the start of the war against Spain.

Guanajuato City Museum : Next door to the University's main building, this museum houses regional works of art and temporary exhibitions.

Don Quixote Iconographic Museum : This free museum is dedicated to Miguel Cervantes' l7th century novel. It features a collection of art depicting Don Quixote, and includes works by Ocampo, Coronel & Dali.

The Mummy Museum : The unique chemicals found in Guanajuato's soil meant that many of the bodies buried in its cemetery were accidentally preserved. More than l00 of these naturally mummified bodies are on display in glass cases lining the walls of this museum. Some still wear their burial clothes.

Olga Costa/Chavez-Morado Museum : An exhibition containing the works of both artists is housed in their former home.

Ex-Hacienda of San Gabriel de Barrera: This former silver refinery is now a museum that displays an outstanding collection of 17th century art and furniture. The jewel in the crown is the museum's gilded open chapel.