Los Pinos
Encyclopedia
Los Pinos is the official residence
and office of the President of Mexico
. Located in the Bosque de Chapultepec
(Chapultepec Forest) in central Mexico City
, it became the presidential seat in 1934, when Gen.
Lázaro Cárdenas
became the first president to live here.
, a trapiche (mill) was built in Chapultepec, where wheat
and maize
were processed into flour. This mill became so important that it was later called el Molino del Rey
("the King's Mill").
In 1853, the Molino del Rey was sold to Dr. José Pablo Martinez del Rio
, who built the Casa Grande ("Big House") that would later become known as Rancho La Hormiga. In 1865 the whole property was sold to Emperor
Maximilian for a total of 25,000 Mexican peso
s.
Following the 1867 overthrow and execution of Maximilian, the property was, in 1872, returned to Dr. Martinez del Rio. In 1917, with the end of the armed phase of the Mexican Revolution
, President Venustiano Carranza
expropriated the properties, paying MXP$
886,473 for both the property and the construction of a residence that would be close to Chapultepec Castle (which at the time was used as the official residence) so that his most trustworthy cabinet member could live there. Because of this, the first inhabitant of the residence was Álvaro Obregón
while he held the post of Navy and War Secretary. After his tenure the residence was abandoned.
Los Pinos has been home to thirteen presidents and their families. In the year 2000, President Vicente Fox
opened the residence to the public and chose one of the nearby "cottages" as his home.
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
and office of the President of Mexico
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
. Located in the Bosque de Chapultepec
Chapultepec
Chapultepec Park, more commonly called the "Bosque de Chapultepec" in Mexico City, is the largest city park in Latin America, measuring in total just over 686 hectares. Centered on a rock formation called Chapultepec Hill, one of the park's main functions is to be an ecological space in the vast...
(Chapultepec Forest) in central Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, it became the presidential seat in 1934, when Gen.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
became the first president to live here.
History
After the Spanish ConquestSpanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
, a trapiche (mill) was built in Chapultepec, where wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
were processed into flour. This mill became so important that it was later called el Molino del Rey
Battle of Molino del Rey
The Battle of Molino del Rey was one of the bloodiest engagements of the Mexican-American War. It was fought in September 1847 between Mexican forces under General Antonio Léon against an American force under General Winfield Scott at a hill called El Molino del Rey near Mexico City.-Background:On...
("the King's Mill").
In 1853, the Molino del Rey was sold to Dr. José Pablo Martinez del Rio
Martinez del Rio
-The Martinez del Rio Family:The Martinez del Rio family is one of the leading patrician families, prominent in entrepreneurship and cultural circles. The family has helped to shape Mexico's politics, economy and society from the time of Mexican independence from Spain, until the present day...
, who built the Casa Grande ("Big House") that would later become known as Rancho La Hormiga. In 1865 the whole property was sold to Emperor
Emperor of Mexico
The Emperor of Mexico was the head of state and ruler of Mexico on two non-consecutive occasions in the 19th century....
Maximilian for a total of 25,000 Mexican peso
Mexican peso
The peso is the currency of Mexico. Modern peso and dollar currencies have a common origin in the 15th–19th century Spanish dollar, most continuing to use its sign, "$". The Mexican peso is the 12th most traded currency in the world, the third most traded in the Americas, and by far the most...
s.
Following the 1867 overthrow and execution of Maximilian, the property was, in 1872, returned to Dr. Martinez del Rio. In 1917, with the end of the armed phase of the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
, President Venustiano Carranza
Venustiano Carranza
Venustiano Carranza de la Garza, was one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution. He ultimately became President of Mexico following the overthrow of the dictatorial Huerta regime in the summer of 1914 and during his administration the current constitution of Mexico was drafted...
expropriated the properties, paying MXP$
Mexican peso
The peso is the currency of Mexico. Modern peso and dollar currencies have a common origin in the 15th–19th century Spanish dollar, most continuing to use its sign, "$". The Mexican peso is the 12th most traded currency in the world, the third most traded in the Americas, and by far the most...
886,473 for both the property and the construction of a residence that would be close to Chapultepec Castle (which at the time was used as the official residence) so that his most trustworthy cabinet member could live there. Because of this, the first inhabitant of the residence was Álvaro Obregón
Álvaro Obregón
General Álvaro Obregón Salido was the President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. He was assassinated in 1928, shortly after winning election to another presidential term....
while he held the post of Navy and War Secretary. After his tenure the residence was abandoned.
Construction
In 1934, President Lázaro Cárdenas took office but refused to use the Castle of Chapultepec as his official residence. He was offered use of Rancho la Hormiga (English: The Ant Ranch), which he accepted. He changed its name to "Los Pinos" (The Pines) in honor of the ranch where he met his wife.Los Pinos has been home to thirteen presidents and their families. In the year 2000, President Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
opened the residence to the public and chose one of the nearby "cottages" as his home.