The virtual tour of the Palacio Municipal de Culiacán allows you to explore one of the most beautiful buildings in the Centro Histórico of the city.
It was built in the 19th century on Avenida Álvaro Obregón, between Mariano Escobedo and Benito Juárez, just two blocks away from the Catedral de Culiacán.
Considered the most modern building of its time; it was also the first two-story structure.
History of the Palacio Municipal de Culiacán
In 1799, the Colegio Seminario was established, and in 1842, the current Palacio Municipal of Culiacán was occupied by the Seminario Nacional Tridentino of Sonora and Sinaloa. Like many buildings in Culiacán from that era, its design featured a central patio surrounded by spacious halls and rooms along the perimeter.
The construction was initiated by the architect Flores, who laid the foundations and oversaw the initial phases. However, he eventually halted the project.
Legend has it that before its construction, a shrine and a small chapel dedicated to San José existed at the site. Due to a lack of financial resources, the Obispo funded the purchase of the land.
Construction was later resumed by a master bricklayer named Flores, who laid the foundation and made significant discoveries during the process. After a 29-year hiatus, construction continued under the direction of Obispo Lázaro de la Garza y Ballesteros. The final details were executed by artists from the country’s center.
Materials from nearby communities such as Mojolo, Imala, and Badiraguato were used in the construction.
Other uses of the Culiacán City Council building
In 1917, it became the Francisco I. Madero Hospice, providing residence for the children of soldiers who died during the revolution.
Over the years, the Municipal Palace of Culiacán has served various purposes, including functioning as a hospital and as the headquarters of the state and municipal government.
Some schools also operated in this building, such as the Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez School for Girls and the Normal School. In 1960, during Governor Gabriel Leyva Velázquez’s term, the State Government Palace was installed here.
Image Gallery
How was this Virtual Tour made
To create the virtual tour of Culiacán’s City Hall, I had the support of the mayor. In order to showcase the architecture, it was recommended that no people be visible in the images, whether in the hallways, the Council Chamber, the Mayor’s office, the streets, or any other facilities.
As you can imagine, this is quite challenging, especially to ensure that no vehicles are circulating on the streets. One Sunday, municipal authorities temporarily halted traffic for a few minutes on the streets surrounding the Culiacán City Hall building.
Use our photos
English translation made by Danytxia Quintero, student at PrepaTec Campus Sinaloa. Tecnológico de Monterrey.
