Aerial view of the Chapultepec Castle and the Monument of the Heroic Cadets.

Facade and balcony of the west wing.

East wing or Alcázar.

Staircase with marble lions.

Another view of the Castle.

Interior gardens in the Castle

A fountain in the Castle

The watchtower known as Caballero Alto.

Monument to the Niños Héroes. Chapultepec Castle can be seen in the background.

The Castillo de Chapultepec (translated as "Castle of Chapultepec") is a castle built on top of Chapultepec Hill (Chapultepec comes from the náhuatl and means "grasshopper hill"), located in the middle of Chapultepec Park in Mexico City at a height of 2,325 meters above sea level. The building has been used for several purposes during its history, including Military Academy, Imperial and Presidential residence, observatory and museum. It currently houses the Mexican National Museum of History. It is the only castle in North America that was occupied by sovereigns. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 859 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Castillo de Chapultepec Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... 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Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 327 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Castillo de Chapultepec Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 261 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Castillo de Chapultepec Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 261 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Castillo de Chapultepec Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Chapultepec Park, Mexico City. ... Chapultepec Park, Mexico City. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Pierrefonds Castle, France Castle has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning. ... Nahuatl is a Native American language indigenous to central Mexico. ... Chapultepec (ChapoltepÄ“c = at the grasshopper hill in the Nahuatl language) is a large hill on the outskirts of central Mexico City with much significance in Mexican history. ... Nickname: Ciudad de los Palacios Location of Mexico City in central Mexico Coordinates: Country Mexico Federal entity Federal District Boroughs The 16 delegaciones Founded (as Tenochtitlan) c. ... MolÄ—tai Astronomical Observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial and/or celestial events. ... The Louvre Museum in Paris, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. ...

Colonial Period

In 1785 Viceroy Bernardo de Gálvez ordered the construction of a country house at the highest point of Chapultepec Hill. Francisco Bambitelli, Lieutenant Colonel of the Spanish Army and engineer drew up the blueprint and began the construction on August 16 of the same year following a baroque style. 1785 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Viceroys of New Spain Spanish Rule Before Appointment of Viceroy Hernán Cortés, as Governor-General . ... Bernardo de Gálvez Bernardo de Gálvez, conde de Galvez (23 July 1746 born in Macharaviaya, a mountain village in the province of Málaga, Spain – 1786) was Spanish governor of Louisiana from 1777 to 1785, and Viceroy of New Spain 1785-1786. ... For the Blur single, see Country House (song). ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... For the Technical Symposium of NITK Surathkal Engineer , see Engineer (Technical Fest). ... Modern blueprint of the French galleon La Belle. ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Baroque architecture, starting in the early 17th century in Italy, took the humanist Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical, theatrical, sculptural fashion, expressing the triumph of absolutist church and state. ...

After Bambitelli's departure to Havana, Captain Manuel Agustín Mascaró took over the leadership of the project and during his tenure the works proceeded at a rapid pace. Mascaró was accused of building a fortress with the intent of rebelling against the Spanish Crown from there. His sudden death on November 8, 1786 fueled speculation that he may have been poisoned; however no evidence has ever been found supporting this claim. Havana (Spanish (IPA pronunciation: ) in full: Ciudad de La Habana, formerly named San Cristóbal de La Habana; UN/LOCODE: CU HAV) is the capital of Cuba. ... Captain is a nautical term, an organizational title, and a rank in various uniformed organizations. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 1786 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Without an engineer in charge, the Crown ordered the building to be auctioned to a price equivalent to one fifth of the total already spent of the project. After finding no buyers Viceroy Juan Vicente Güermes Pacheco intended the building to house the General Archive of the Kingdom of the New Spain; that idea was not to prosper either despite of already having the blueprints adapted for this purpose.

Alexander von Humboldt visited the site in 1803 and condemned the sale of the palace’s windows by the Royal Treasury as a way of raising funds for the Crown. The building was finally bought in 1806 by the municipal government of Mexico City. An 1859 portrait of Alexander von Humboldt by the artist Julius Schrader, showing Mount Chimborazo in the background. ... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Independence

Chapultepec Castle was abandoned during the Mexican War of Independence (1810 – 1821) and many years later until 1833. On that year the building was decreed to become the location of the Colegio Militar (Military Academy); as a consequence several structural modifications had to be done, including the addition of the watchtower known as Caballero Alto ("Tall Knight"). The Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821), which started on September 16, 1810, was Mexicos struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The coronation banquet for George IV 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

On September 13, 1847, the Niños Héroes died defending the palace while it was taken by American Marines during the Battle of Chapultepec of the Mexican-American War. They are honored with a large mural on the ceiling above the main entrance to the castle [1]. September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces to global crises. ... Combatants United States Mexico Commanders Winfield Scott Nicolás Bravo Strength 13,000 876 cadets, 4000 regulars Casualties 130 killed 703 wounded 29 missing 862 total 1,800 killed and wounded 823 captured 2,623 TotalGen. ... Combatants United States Mexico Commanders Zachary Taylor Winfield Scott Stephen W. Kearney Antonio López de Santa Anna Mariano Arista Pedro de Ampudia Strength 7,000 - 43,000 18,000 - 40,000 Casualties KIA: 1,733 Total dead: 13,283 Wounded: 4,152 25,000 killed or wounded (Mexican government...

Several new rooms were built on the second floor of the palace during the tenure of President Miguel Miramón, who was also an alumnus of the Military Academy. The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state of Mexico. ... Miguel Gregorio de la Luz Atenógenes Miramón y Tarelo (November 17, 1831 – June 19, 1867) was a Mexican conservative general and Mexicos youngest president ever. ...

Second Mexican Empire

The palace started to acquire its modern look after the Mexican Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg and his wife Empress Carlota established their Imperial residence there in 1864. The Emperor hired several European and Mexican architects, among them Julius Hofmann, Carl Kaiser, Carlos Schaffer, Eleuterio Méndez and Ramón Rodríguez Arangoity, to realize the several projects which followed a neoclassical style of architecture and rendered the palace into a more inhabitable place. Botanist Wilhelm Knechtel was in charge of creating the aereal garden located on the roof of the building. Additionally, the Emperor brought from Europe several pieces of furniture, art and many other fine household items that are still exhibited to this day. The Mexican Empire was the name of Mexico on two non-consecutive occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an Emperor. ... Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico, (July 6, 1832 – June 19, 1867) was a member of Austrias Imperial Habsburg family. ... Carlota of Mexico (also spelled Carlotta; sometimes rendered as Charlotte) (June 7, 1840 – January 19, 1927) was the wife of regime largely dependent on French troops under the orders of Napoleon III. The only daughter of Leopold I, King of the Belgians (1790–1865) by his second wife... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture. ... Botany is the scientific study of plant life. ... In 1860 werd hij tuinman en botaniker bij de aartshertog Maximiliaan op het slot Miramare. ... A roof garden is any garden on the roof of a building. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ...

At the time the palace was still located at the outskirts of Mexico City. Maximilian ordered the construction of a straight boulevard connecting the Imperial residence with the city centre, and naming it Paseo de la Emperatriz ("Empress' Promenade"). Following the restoration of the Republic in 1867 by President Benito Juárez and the end of the Reform War (Guerra de Reforma) the boulevard was renamed as Paseo de la Reforma. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Benito Pablo Juárez García () (March 21, 1806 – July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Amerindian who served five terms [1] (1858–1861), (1861–1865), (1865–1867), (1867–1871), and (1871–1872), as President of Mexico. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Paseo de la Reforma (Reform Avenue) is a 12 km long grand avenue in Mexico City. ...

Modern Era

The building fell into disuse once more after the fall of the Second Mexican Empire in 1867. Almost ten years later, in 1876, a decree established an Astronomical, Meteorological and Magnetic Observatory on the site, which was opened in 1878. However, the observatory was only functional for five years after it was decided to move it to the former residence of the Archbishop in Tacubaya. The reason was to allow the return of the Colegio Militar to the premises as well as transforming the building into the presidential residence. The Mexican Empire was the name of Mexico on two non-consecutive occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an Emperor. ... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... A giant Hubble mosaic of the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant. ... Satellite image of Hurricane Hugo with a polar low visible at the top of the image. ... Magnetic lines of force of a bar magnet shown by iron filings on paper In physics, magnetism is one of the phenomena by which materials exert an attractive or repulsive force on other materials. ... MolÄ—tai Astronomical Observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial and/or celestial events. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop. ...

The palace was subject of several structural changes from 1882 and during the term of President Porfirio Díaz. The other Presidents who made the palace their official residence were Francisco I. Madero, Venustiano Carranza, Álvaro Obregón, Plutarco Elías Calles, Emilio Portes Gil, Pascual Ortiz Rubio and Abelardo Rodríguez. Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mory (15 September 1830 – 2 July 1915), Mexican war volunteer and French intervention hero; later President. ... A graphical timeline is available here: Timeline of the Mexican Revolution Francisco Indalecio/Ignacio Madero González (30 October 1873 – 22 February 1913) was a politician, writer and revolutionary who served as President of Mexico from 1911 to 1913. ... Venustiano Carranza Garza (December 29, 1859 – May 21, 1920) was one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution. ... General Álvaro Obregón Salido (February 19, 1880 – July 17, 1928) was President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. ... Term of office: 1 December 1924 – 30 November 1928 Preceded by: Álvaro Obregón Succeeded by: Emilio Portes Gil Date of birth: 25 September 1877 Place of birth: Guaymas, Sonora Date of death: 19 October 1945 Place of death: Mexico City Profession: Schoolteacher, soldier, politician First Lady: Natalia Chacón... Emilio Portes Gil (3 October 1890 – 10 December 1978) was President of Mexico from 1928 to 1930. ... Pascual Ortiz Rubio (10 March 1877 – 4 November 1963) was a Mexican politician. ... Term of office: 4 September 1932 – 30 November 1934 Preceded by: Pascual Ortiz Rubio Succeeded by: Lázaro Cárdenas del Río Date of birth: 12 May 1889 Place of birth: Guaymas, Sonora Date of death: 13 February 1967 Place of death: La Jolla, California, USA Profession: Army General...

Finally on February 3, 1939 President Lázaro Cárdenas decreed a law that established Chapultepec Castle as the seat of the National Museum of History (Museo Nacional de Historia) with the collections of the former National Museum of Archaeology, History and Ethnography. The museum was opened on September 27, 1944. February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about Gen. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

The castle was a film location for the movie Romeo and juliet starring leonardo dicaprio

See also

• Chapultepec Park
• Paseo de la Reforma
• Palacio de Bellas Artes