Our visit to Palacio Nacional, the president’s house in Mexico City

Published on Octuber 3, 2025.

On Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, we visited one of the most important places in the entire country: the National Palace, the residence of our president and the site of many historic events.

We arrived early at a building next to the National Palace, waited in line for access, presented an official physical ID (not digital), chose a Spanish-language tour (there’s also an option in English), and were then guided into the site.

A tour guide took us through the official hallways, showed us the old chamber used by deputies, explained the materials used to build the walls, and told us the history of the third floor. But without a doubt, the most spectacular part of the visit was the Diego Rivera murals that depict the full history of Mexico and its people.

One mural in particular, titled “The Epic of the Mexican People,” summarizes the country's history from the arrival of the Mexica (not Aztecs) in Tenochtitlán (modern-day Mexico City), through the Spanish invasion, slavery, the fight for independence, and the Mexican Revolution, all the way to modern times. There are also many smaller and mid-sized murals representing the diverse traditions, cuisine, and commerce of the ancient peoples who now live throughout Mexico.

Best of all, the cost of the tour was absolutely nothing! Tours of the National Palace are free (yes, even for foreigners), and all you need to do is arrive early and wait your turn to enter.

We hope to repeat this experience in the future with our students, so they can learn more about Mexico, Mexico City, and our culture.