The City Museum is housed in a building that occupies the southwest corner formed by the ancient streets of Bitterness and Countess, today Avenue and Calle Zaragoza Esteban Morales, respectively, in the Historic Center of Veracruz.

The property is a two storey building of neoclassical architecture Veracruz feature mid to late s. XIX. The facades, made with an alternating series of solid and vain topped by eaves with brackets and cornices, correspond on both levels; the bottom of the windows on the ground floor, except the doors is adorned with panels “diamond point”.

The main facade, onto Avenida Zaragoza, has at its center a huge shuttered door, framed with average samples fluted Ionic pilasters in the upper two thirds, which end in a frieze topped with a cornice. The second level, two central balconies, topped by a pediment and a ledge that extends to the sides, ending in a parapet alternating panels and balustrades throughout facades. In the frontispiece was originally housed the statue of Charity, in white marble, now located in the park fountain Civil Registry, and was expressly brought from Germany to adorn the building.

Entering through the front door and across the hall, you are a beautiful bronze grate with secondary doors. The rectangular courtyard is surrounded by galleries and arcades envigadas supported by pilasters on the ground floor and upstairs columns; In the center is a fountain with Italian marble landfills. In the background lies the ladder imperial style, like the floors of the courtyard and galleries, is gray marble; its railings are made of bronze and are repeated in the upper gallery. The lighting of the staircase can reach through a splendid stained glass, designed by Alberto Beltran, who represents the Old Thunder, Tajin, complemented the set with a Venetian mosaic mural depicting the Twelve Elders creators -who storms looming in the clouds – that appear on the inside of the dome of half orange, topped with a lantern, ceiling serves the stairs.

Interior doors that open onto the central courtyard develop on walls and lintels spills, while the windows facing the street have high repisones. Upstairs, there is a correspondence of spills on walls while arched lintels tend to dizziness. Towards the central courtyard it has been added ornamentation surrounding the openings, moldings and cords surrounding platabanda lintels and fall to the floor nozzle. Lattices interior doors and windows are formed with characteristic traditional wooden bar in town.

Originally the building was built by resolution of the council to house the Hospice of the city. In regular meeting of February 27, 1852, an agreement was approved to establish in the city of Veracruz hospice where “… protection be provided to the needy humanity.” This agreement had the consent of the State Government and the sponsorship of two distinguished Veracruz Don Ildefonso Ricardo Cardeña and Manuel Gutiérrez Zamora.

Responsible for raising funds for the work, a Welfare Board monthly subscriptions promoted among neighbors and trade, while the City Council allocated for the construction of the hospice some funds from fiscal charges that entered his Treasury from the Maritime Customs. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the members of the Board, and the generosity of the people of the city, on 12 December the same year of 1852 the first stone was laid. The design and construction of the building the architect José Zapari were responsible.

Almost completed by the end of 1861 and about to be inaugurated, the facts which led to the intervention of the military forces of Britain, Spain and France in December of that year occurred. The building was used by the infantry of the Royal Navy and later by one of the bodies of the Spanish Legion. Months later the building became the hospital of the French Navy, condition in which survived until the withdrawal of the French military in 1867. Later the building was occupied by soldiers of the garrison of the city, to become later on Women provisional hospital until the repair of the old Hospital of Loreto were completed.

I vacated the property, was the need to make repairs, as it had been accumulating deterioration in its structure and its facilities. The works were made by architect Matthew Zapari, and the first was completed September 1870. The solemn opening of the Hospice of the city was held on December 12 of that year, with the presence of then Governor, Mr. . Hernandez and Hernandez, who sponsored the ceremony. Hospice worked in this building for about 100 years, until the construction of the new facilities of the Casa Hogar Niño Manuel Gutiérrez Zamora in its present location south of the city.

On the occasion of the 450th anniversary of the founding of the Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, and the necessity that the city will have adequate space to hold and display its history, it was decided that the building was repaired and remodeled to serve as the Museum of the City.

Funded by the City Council and with the support of the State Government, the architectural project and the works were conducted by architects Thomas Enrique Segarra (who was its first Director), Jose Torres and Alejandro Lozano Trueba, with the support of Poumián and architects Jorge Luis Siliceo; the original museography corresponded to anthropologists and Emilio Bejarano Alfonso Medellin Zenil and historian José Luis Melgarejo Vivanco. It opened as the Museum of the City November 25, 1970.

In 1988, the Museum being under temporary administration of the State Government, and with the patronage of Mr. Antonio Exome, the building was partially remodeled, changing its museological contents.

Given the need to provide visitors with dignity and with the most modern museum facilities museum space, the municipal administration undertook in 2000 a grand work of architectural restoration and historical content, as well as a new operating structure that allows operation Museum not only provide truthful, attractive and comprehensive educational content historical information, but become a center for the promotion and dissemination of the culture of the city. Funds provided by the city of Veracruz and CONACULTA were applied in the museum rehabilitation, while the building and its facilities are fully rehabilitated with funds from the municipal administration.

The project design and museum were made by Ms. Laura Serrano Corro, leading a team of designers and specialists historians, among them Ricardo Pérez Montfort, Bernardo Garcia Olivera Díaz and Horacio Guadarrama.; supervision of works of architectural salvage, meanwhile, was in charge of the Arq. Alicia Vargas Lopez. The comprehensive rehabilitation project was conducted under the overall coordination of the Arq. Joaquin Idiazabal Segarra, Director of the Institution. The new Museum of the City gave the Community on 15 August 2000.

The Museum of the City of Veracruz, is a cultural non-profit institution that receives, restores, preserves and exhibits objects and collections merits and historical, artistic and cultural interest, related to the city of Veracruz.

It also promotes research and dissemination of events and characters of the City, who have excelled for his participation in history, art and local, regional or national culture.

Favors and presents, inside and outside its walls, various activities related to the history, art and culture in general, as an instrument to reach all members of society the benefits of training in general cultural values, and as a way to preserve and enhance the values ​​of the locals Veracruz.

Maintains, finally, exchange relationships with researchers, artists and other creators of cultural institutions, and temporary loan and luggage museum and research materials with other museums and similar institutions of the city, state, country and other nations.

The City Museum is an area that offers generously Veracruz visitors for you to use and enjoy while you are all the more interesting aspects of the historical development of our city and its inhabitants.

The Museum of the City appreciates the interest in knowing, and pray those who favor us with their visit, read and follow these few indications, to fully enjoy your stay with us.

VISITING HOURS
The City Museum is open to the general public Wednesday to Monday from 10:00 to 18:00 hs. and, on special occasions at other times.

It will be closed on Tuesdays, as well as the dates on which the labor laws or municipal regulations may apply.

BUSINESS RULES
Visitors should observe the Rules of the Museum of the City during their visit, making sure that their areas and play spaces are not used, or noises that disturb other visitors, researchers, museum staff or issued.

It is allowed to use video cameras and cameras in all areas of the museum, but you must cover a minimum rate of recovery.

AREAS OF THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY
On the ground floor are located: the main entrance and the hallway, the office, Luggage and Sale module, the module information, the Permanent Exhibition Hall I, Permanent Exhibition Hall II, the site museum, the Patio Central Corridors (or portals) downstairs and a core of toilets for visitors, in addition to the winery reception and check of different materials.

Upstairs are located: the Directorate, the Administrative Offices, Temporary Exhibition Halls and B, the Auditorium, the Multipurpose Room, Cafeteria and Terrace, and the corridor upstairs, plus cellar museum collection.

The permanent exhibition halls show the historical development of the city, based on texts, images, various documents, objects and collections, models, and features interactive devices allow visitors will consult the most important aspects of the history of the City.

Your tour begins in Room I, and follows a chronological sequence of the history of the city, which begins in the sixteenth century with the prehistoric remains found in the Island of Sacrifices and around the city, its foundation and journey, development during the Viceroyalty, foreign interventions and the Reformation, and its strategic and commercial importance to the s. XIX; Division II records the history of the city in the twentieth century, beginning with the major port and city beautification works, social movements and the arrival of the Spanish exiles, to end the growth of the city and events recent years to the late fifties.

The Temporal and Exhibition Halls Brokers, meanwhile, regularly present the work of artists and creators, while in Central Patio cultural events such as concerts, theater, book presentations, concerts and other presents.

Both the Auditorium and Multipurpose Hall shelter conferences and various cultural forums. In the ground floor corridor a collection of pre-Hispanic archaeological pieces of large format displays.