Casa del Tiempo

Photos courtesy of the Casa del Tiempo Facebook page. 

The Casa del Tiempo is a beautiful old mansion and cultural center in San Miguel Chapultepec. It may in fact be the most architecturally pleasing building in the neighborhood. Recognized by the National Fine Arts Institute for its artistic value, the Casa hosts a thriving artistic, musical, and cultural community.

The home went up in 1870. The first owner to move in was the widow of General Miguel Miramón (1831–1867). He was once recognized as the first Mexican President born in Independent Mexico. But as a conservative president during the Reformation Period (February 1859 through December 1860), history hasn’t treated his reputation well. Having later sided with Maximilian and the 2nd Mexican Empire, he twice saw defeat by Benito Juárez. The Juárez administration executed Miramón alongside Maximilian in June of 1867.

The house is much more often cited as having passed onto the family of Ezequiel Padilla at the end of the 19th century.

• Ezequiel Padilla Peñaloza (1890–1971) was a statesman, and Secretary of both Education  (1928-1930) and later, Foreign Affairs (1940-1945). He’s often credited with keeping Mexico within the orbit of the USA during World War II. Born in Guerrero, he rose quickly in the 1920s to serve as President of the Chamber of Deputies in 1925 and then as a Senator. He’s especially well-remembered as a rival candidate for the presidency in a campaign ultimately won by Miguel Alemán Valdés who served as President from 1946 through 1952.

The house was purchased by the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana (UAM) in 1997. The university spent 8 months restoring the home and gardens. Today the Casa offers a tremendous variety of workshops, educational courses and events. It’s the site of frequent conferences and seminars as well as screenings, recitals, performances and exhibitions.

The casa is about a 5-minute walk from Metro Juanacátalan.