History of Mexico City
From Tenochtitlan to Modern Mexico
Long before Mexico City became the nation’s capital, the Valley of Mexico was home to ancient settlements and powerful civilizations. The Mexicas founded Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco, building one of the most important cities in pre-Columbian America.
After the Spanish conquest, colonial Mexico City was built over the ruins of Tenochtitlan. Today, Centro Histórico still reveals this layered history, where the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, Zócalo, and Templo Mayor sit within steps of each other.
Mexico City became the Federal District in 1824 after Mexico’s independence and later evolved into the political, cultural, financial, and educational heart of the country.
