The City Hall of Chihuahua is an early 20th century building in the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. Located in front of the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral

Cathedral of Chihuahua

The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross, Our Lady of Regla, and St Francis of Assisi is the main ecclesiastical building of the Catholic Church in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. It is considered perhaps the finest example of colonial architecture in northern Mexico and dates from 1725....

, the City Hall houses the executive power of Chihuahua, the office of the mayor of Chihuahua

Municipal president of Chihuahua

The Municipal President of Chihuahua is the head of local government of Chihuahua Municipality, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.The mayor's authority includes the state capital, the city of Chihuahua, Chih....

, and the City Council whose salon is of special interest. The edifice is considered one of the main landmarks in the city centre.

History

The building traces its origins to the construction of the so-called Royal House, built in the year 1721, that was designed to house the local authorities under royal Spanish rule. The building was popularly known as the Portals of the Municipality (Portales del Ayuntamiento). Eventually the colonial building was razed and at the beginning of the XXth Century construction was initiated on a new city office building.

The project was put under the charge of Architects John White and Alfredo Giles, and the building was officially inaugurated by Chihuahuas governor, Don

Don (honorific)

Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...

 Enrique Creel

Creel-Terrazas family

The Creel-Terrazas family is a powerful and wealthy family based in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.- Events: During the rule of President Porfirio Díaz and the Mexican Revolution, this family was part of the científico faction. The científicos were conservative civilian technocrats and...

 on October 4, 1907. Since then the building has housed the municipal offices of the city, and in 2005 it underwent a further reconstruction, the most visible change being the color of the decorations near the roof which were changed from green to light brown.

Architecture

The building is a perfect example of the Mexican architecture that was erected during the presidency of Porfirio Díaz

Porfirio Díaz

José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...

: Neoclassicism was influenced by French 'Beaux Artes' and European fashion at the turn of century. The building has two floors, the first with an available space for expositions and receptions.

Of interest is the salon of the City Council which is decorated in a grand, almost Olympian style with large mirrors and Corinthian columns, and containing three stained-glass windows, representing the history and economy of the municipality, and including the City Coat of Arms. Also of interest is the honorary seat for the permanent member of the council, President Benito Juárez

Benito Juárez

Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872...

, who lived here with his cabinet and government-in-exile during the French incursion, from 1864 through December, 1866, and was accorded this honour during his stay.