Chapultepec

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (September 2009)

Chapultepec Park with Polanco at the right, as seen from Torre Mayor observation deck.

Chapultepec (Chapoltepēc, "at the grasshopper's hill" in the Nahuatl language; cf. Mexican Spanish chapulín (grasshopper)) is a large hill on the outskirts of central Mexico City. It has been a special place for Mexicans throughout Mexican history, and it was on this hill that the Aztecs made a temporary home after arriving from northern Mexico in the 1200s.

Chapultepec Park, which consists of the hill and 1,600 acres (6.5 km²) of surrounding land, has many attractions, including Chapultepec Castle, where Maximilian I of Mexico and Empress Carlota of Mexico once lived. The castle's sumptuous interior now houses the National History Museum.

The eastern portion of the park has contained the official residences of the President of Mexico. Chapultepec Castle served as both military academy and presidential residence until 1934. At that time President Lázaro Cárdenas moved to the more modern Los Pinos residence and office complex, adjacent to Calle Molino del Rey, which remains the official residence today.

History

One of the Chapultepec lakes with Casa del Lago at the left and Polanco hotels, residential and offices buildings above it.

"Altar to the Nation" monument by Enrique Aragón Echegaray and Ernesto Tamariz. Here rest the remains of the "Niños Heroes" and Coronel Felipe Santiago Xincoténcatl. Inaugurated on September 27, 1952.

Ritual and domestic objects including funerary urns in the Teotihuacan style from about the 4th century have been discovered by archaeologists on Chapultepec.

The last Emperor of the Toltecs, Huemac was said to have spent his last days in a cave at Chapultepec after the fall of Tula. The Mexica settled there in the year 8 Reed or 1299 A.D., they lived in Chapultepec for 20 years, started the next ceremonial fire, then a Tepanec alliance including Culhuacan, Xochimilco, and Azcapotzalco harassed and drove them out.

In the days when Tenochtitlán was the island capital of the Aztecs, the city was linked to Chapultepec by a causeway. Aztec chiefs turned the hill and the surrounding forest into a royal retreat. The poet-king Nezahualcóyotl built a palace there in the 1400s, along with an aqueduct to carry spring water to the Aztec capital. A monumental garden was established atop Chapultepec, featuring bas-relief sculptures of rulers, plants from across the empire, and sculptures of plants found in the empire but unable to grow in the high altitudes of the summit. Processional paths were lined with āhuēhuētl trees because of their association with royalty.^[1] A sculpture of Moctezuma I can still be seen (in unfortunately damaged condition) carved into the rock of Chapultepec, not far from Huemac's cave.

Spanish King Carlos V (Charles V) declared the zone a nature reserve in 1537. During the Spanish colonial era, the Viceroys of New Spain had their palace atop Chapultepec, demolishing Pre-Columbian structures in the process. A larger Viceregal castle was constructed on the spot in 1784.

After Mexico won its independence, the old viceregal palace was turned into a military academy in 1833. During the Mexican-American War in 1847, an engagement was fought in Chapultepec in which six military cadets, ages 14–20, fought to their deaths against the invading United States Marine Corps. One of them, Juan Escutia, wrapped himself in the Mexican flag and jumped to his death rather than be captured. They are today remembered as Mexico's Niños Héroes – the "Child Heroes" or "Heroic Cadets" and are honored with a white marble monument at the entrance to the park (see: Battle of Chapultepec and lithograph by Nebel).

When Napoleon III launched the French intervention in Mexico and imposed a monarchy in the 1860s, Emperor Maximilian of Mexico and Empress Carlota of Mexico set up their residence in the existing Castillo de Chapultepec atop Chapultepec Hill, expanding the Spanish colonial structure.

Chapultepec Park today

Looking along Reforma from Chapultepec Castle

National Museum of Anthropology

The hill of Chapultepec and surrounding land are now Chapultepec Park, a popular spot both for locals and tourists. Chapultepec is at one end of Paseo de la Reforma.

The park covers 1,800 acres (7.3 km²) of land, centuries old forest, several small lakes, and landscaped areas with outdoor cafes. Chapultepec Zoo is located here, as well as an amusement park, La Feria Chapultepec Mágico, and the official residence of the President of Mexico, Los Pinos.

Chapultepec Castle atop the hill is the National Museum of History. The park also includes the National Auditorium, along with several other museums, including the Modern Art Museum, the Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Papalote Children Museum and the large National Museum of Anthropology and History with perhaps the world's finest collection of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican art and artifacts.

Gallery

Aztec dancer in Chapultepec Park.	Aztec dancers and drummers in Chapultepec Park.	Statue of Nezahualcoyotl	Frog Fountain
The Calzada del Rey (Path of the King)

See also

• Chapultepec Peace Accords

References

External links

• (Spanish) Website with current event schedules and historical articles & images about Chapultepec.
• Satellite picture of Chapultepec Park by Google Maps
• Satellite picture of Chapultepec Castle by Google Maps
• Satellite picture of Los Pinos by Google Maps
• Images of Chapultepec

Coordinates: 19°42.1768′N 99°18.4613′W / 19.7029467°N 99.3076883°W / 19.7029467; -99.3076883