La Huatápera indigenous museum

The Huatápera of Uruapan was founded by Fray Juan de San Miguel in 1533, to provide the natives with a hospital, meeting place and inn. Thus it became the first building of its kind and the first colonial construction in Uruapan..

Following the formation of the maque workers' cooperative in 1932, the building became the main exhibition forum for this beautiful art. Over the years, the building suffered serious deterioration, until in 1954 it was given to the National Indigenous Institute, which undertook the task of rehabilitating it with the aim of converting it into a regional museum.

From 1999, the building entered a new stage of rehabilitation in which the Government of the State of Michoacán, the Municipal Government of Uruapan, the Secretariat of Social Development, the National Institute of Anthropology and History and the National Indigenous Institute intervened in a coordinated manner. This process, which included the renovation of its exhibition halls, culminated in December 2001, when it was reopened with the opening of the permanent hall with the theme The maque in Michoacan, two temporary exhibition rooms are created, the Chapel, the multipurpose room and the Regional Information and Documentation Center are enabled.

In 2002 the remodeling phase was completed with the opening of its permanent exhibition hall. The four villages.

The Huatápera, in addition to its historical character and for being the most valuable architectural jewel that Uruapan possesses, should be known with greater interest since it currently houses a Museum of Art and Indigenous Tradition that is very important in the State, divided into four rooms and the chapel:

In its main hall, dedicated to “The Four Peoples”, you can admire manifestations of the cultural wealth of these peoples through their most representative material work, among which stand out pieces related to their daily, religious, recreational and artistic life.

In the permanent room “El maque de Michoacán”, you can appreciate the cultural value of a historical line of artistic production of the Purhépecha people, as well as the aesthetic and technological differences that characterize the production centers of Michoacán maque: Uruapan, Quiroga and Pátzcuaro, each with its own particular seal, both for the type of products made, as well as for the designs and finishes.

Through its two temporary rooms, the Huatapera shows its visitors various exhibitions with themes related to the life, customs and worldview of the indigenous people of Mexico.

In the Chapel you can enjoy a wonderful mural dating back to the 16th century, and every month, an outstanding piece of craftsmanship made by indigenous hands.