The Cantón Palace, one of the most emblematic buildings in Mérida, in the state of Yucatán, is preparing to celebrate a new stage in its history, since from December 10, 2024, the Regional Museum of Anthropology of Yucatán (MRAY) will inaugurate a room dedicated to the property itself, in commemoration of its 65th anniversary as a cultural headquarters.
This building was ordered to be built by General Francisco Cantón Rosado, an influential figure in the history of Yucatán and who held the position of governor of the state between 1898 and 1902.
The construction of the palace began in 1904 and was completed in 1911. It was designed by the Italian architect Enrico Deserti and reflects a neoclassical and eclectic style, characteristic of the Porfiriato.
Currently, the Cantón Palace is home to the Yucatán Regional Museum of Anthropology, where important pieces of Mayan culture are exhibited.
This new permanent exhibition, titled “El Palacio Cantón. Witness to History”, will offer the public a tour from its beginnings as the private residence of General Francisco Cantón Rosado to its transformation into an important cultural venue.
The director of MRAY, Bernardo Sarvide Primo, explained that this initiative responds to frequent questions from visitors about the origin and functions of the building.
The new room will have timelines, graphs, and 131 pieces and historical documents that narrate the evolution of this construction located on Paseo Montejo.
The museum, which was founded in the basement of the Palace in 1959, was transferred to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to house one of the most significant pre-Hispanic collections on the peninsula.
The exhibition is divided into two main sections. The first focuses on the figure of General Francisco Cantón, showing personal objects, medals, and diplomas from his military career.
The second section addresses the arrival of the museum to the Palace, highlighting foundational collections such as those of the Yucateco Museum and the Archaeological and Historical Museum of Yucatán. These collections, along with donations from Alvar and Carmen T. de Carrillo Gil and archaeological discoveries in sites such as Mayapán, Xkipché, and Uxmal, have been fundamental for the development of the MRAY.
Architect Sarvide Primo also recognized the work of historian Blanca M. González Rodríguez, former director of the museum, who published a book about the Palace in 2011. The new room, which occupies 300 square meters of the upper floor, is largely based on the contributions of this work.
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