National Palace (Mexico)

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The National Palace in Mexico City

The National Palace is the seat of the federal executive in Mexico. It is located in Mexico City's main square, the Plaza de la Constitución (El Zócalo).

The palace was originally constructed in 1563 after the conquest of New Spain. After fires in 1659 and 1692, the palace was reconstructed in its present form.

In 1821, coinciding with the culmination of the War of Independence against Spain, the palace was named the National Palace (Palacio Nacional). Executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government were housed in the palace; the latter two branches would eventually reside elsewhere. After the Battle for Mexico City during the Mexican-American War, as military governor, Gen. John A. Quitman became the only American to ever rule from the palace. During the second Mexican Empire, Maximilian I renamed it the Imperial Palace. When the empire ended in 1867, the building was once again called the National Palace, and it continued to be the seat of the executive authority and the official residence of the President. The Castillo de Chapultepec had been, and would again be, another official residence of the President.

In 1926 a third level was added to the palace under the government of Plutarco Elías Calles. Between 1929 and 1951, the muralist Diego Rivera produced in the palace enormous murals depicting and celebrating the history of Mexico, which occupy almost 1,200 square feet of wall space. Between 1999 and 2000, during the government of Ernesto Zedillo, the palace was substantially remodeled and restored.

The National Palace continues to be the official seat of the executive authority, although it is no longer the official residence of the President. It also lodges, among others, the following offices and areas of interest: