Description of the attraction
The Regional Museum of Anthropology occupies the rooms of the amazingly beautiful Canton Palace, located on the fashionable Paseo de Montejo boulevard in Merida. The mansion got its name from the surname of its first owners. At the beginning of the 20th century, the palace was the residence of the richest family of Canton Rosado, whose representative named Francisco was the general and governor of the province of Yucatan. The Canton Palace was built in 1904-1911 by the Italian architect Dessert. Francisco Canton Rosado lived here until his death in 1917. After that, the mansion was inherited by his relatives. They owned the Canton Palace until 1932, when the Yucatan government, led by Bartolomé García Correa, nationalized it. The small mansion was used for various purposes: first, the Hidalgo School was opened here, and then the State College of Fine Arts. Since 1948, the palace has been occupied by state governors. Only in 1966 it was given away for the needs of the Museum of Anthropology.
The Regional Museum, dedicated to the culture and history of the Indians who lived in the past centuries in the territory of the modern province of Yucatan, is considered one of the most informative museums in Merida. His collection consists of artifacts created by the Maya Indians and used in everyday life. Here you can see accessories for stretching the skulls of newborns for cosmetic purposes, tools for working with teeth, which were decorated with precious stones, clothes, utensils, religious sculpture, weapons and much more. The museum's permanent exhibition is located on the ground floor of the Canton Palace. Temporary exhibitions are usually held in the halls on the second floor.
