Today, I came across what is apparently the oldest wax museum of the Americas in Mexico City.
As I was walking to some popular area of the city near me to get a hamburger, I noticed this museum open that I hadn’t seen before.
It’s along some path that I’ve been walking through over the last month and only just saw it opened today.
So I first got my hamburger to get some lunch.
My neighbor’s dog was so excited when I came back home that he actually slammed the door shut when I walked in and then started jumping all over me.
Then, after finishing the hamburger, I made sure to check out this museum.
I’m not really that into museums to be honest though.
But I’ve been making more of an effort to check out as many touristy areas in the city that I have neglected to ever look at over the 4 years living here so far.
With a goal of mine to hit up at least 3 sites a week but ideally a new one everyday instead.
We’ll see how active I get.
Anyway, I got walked back to the oldest wax museum of the Americas as you can see here.
A place called “Museo de Figuras de Cera” located on Misterios 880 in northern Mexico City.
It’s literally located just across the street from a much more touristy site called the Basilica.
A place that I checked out that you can read about here.
Given I live only 5 minutes from here, it was easy to get to.
If you don’t live anywhere near this part of Mexico City, you’ll be able to get here the easiest by either arriving to Metro bus station La Villa or to the metro station Deportivo 18 de Marzo.
Out of the two, La Villa is going to be a little bit closer for you.
Anyway, let’s get to my experience at this museum now.
Inside the Museum
Once inside, there was some dude at the counter who gave me this ticket after paying 15 pesos or roughly 75 cents to enter.
For children, it only costs 10 pesos or 50 cents.
You will also see this here on the wall informing you what historical characters that they have wax figures of.
So if you want to see wax figures of folks like Emiliano Zapata, then make sure to stop by this place before 6 PM when it closes.
Anyway, I walked through a curtain after getting my ticket.
You’ll find yourself in a little hallway where you’ll see the wax figures on the side behind some glass.
In this hallway, here are the wax figures that I saw portrayed.
We have El Chavo which was a very popular and funny TV program for Mexicans.
The second figure is Agustin Lara who was a musical composer.
From my memory, I think these were the only wax figures in the first hallway but I can’t remember too well.
But then, at the end of the hallway, you’ll find some stairs.
Once you go up, you’ll see the following wax figures in a longer hallway as you can see in all of the photos below.
The first set of wax figures were Francisco I. Madero and Venustiano Carranza. Both of whom were important political figures who, if I recall right, were active in the Mexican Revolution that you can read about here.
Then you have the second set of wax figures here showing Vicente Guerrero and Don Mariano Matamoros. Both of whom were important in the Mexican War of Independence.
Afterwards, you have folks like Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa as you can see here. Also important in the Mexican Revolution.
Of course, given all of the religious tourism in this neighborhood, we have some religious wax figures like San Juan Pablo II who, according to the sign, was a pope.
And we have some wax figure of what I guess is Santa Maria de Guadalupe? I’m not at all religious but I guess that’s her.
You can see both of them here.
Next, we have Pedro Infante here who was a popular actor. Followed after him is Rocio Durcal (another famous actress). You can see both of them below.
Then we have Jorge Negrete here. He was a singer.
After that last one, you’ll find yourself going down some stairs again.
In which the next wax figure is of this white Mexican chick here with a shot of what I assume to be vodka on the table (some white clear liquid).
Looks like the same shot glass I got at home!
Anyway, she looks to be pretty happy that night drinking away.
To be honest, I have no idea who this chick is supposed to be because the sign doesn’t have her name.
And, when I looked at the list of wax figure names presented here at the front of the building, I don’t see any name we have not seen yet or will not see in the remaining few wax figures after her.
So I have no idea who I’m looking at here.
The wax figure makes her look more like a slutty white Mexican gal you find in an empty mezcal bar at 2:17 AM with few other women available to talk to.
“Well….I guess she’ll do. Como te llamas?”
So your guess is as good as mine!
Next, we have this couple here of Benito Juarez and his wife, Margarita Maza de Juarez.
Benito Juarez being the 26th president of Mexico.
Finally, the last wax figures are these two religious characters here.
Pope Emerito Benedicto XVI and the current pope Francisco.
Final Verdict: Worth Seeing?
Sure.
It only costed like 75 cents for me to enter.
And, assuming that the sign in the front doesn’t lie, then I suppose it’s slightly cool to see the oldest wax museum in the Americas.
From what I read online, apparently this place opened in 1933.
So it’s not too old actually.
Still pretty cool to have crossed off my list of things to do – “see the oldest wax museum in the Americas.”
All for 75 cents!
Now, to be fair, I wouldn’t go back to this place again afterwards.
I’m just not that interested in museums in general nor do I care much for wax figures.
I’d recommend you visit this place if you happen to have a raging boner for wax figures or if you happen to be in the area by chance.
I believe the main selling point of this museum, outside of being the oldest wax museum in the Americas, is that it’s located literally right in front of the Basilica.
The Basilica being a more noteworthy place to visit that I wrote about here with photos.
With only 10 minutes needed to check out the wax museum, it’s an easy thing to cross off your list if you are visiting the Basilica.
All around, it was an OK experience.
Finally, keep in mind that I read online that this place apparently has a few hundred wax figures that they can display anytime.
So it's quite possible, if I had to guess, that maybe you'd see a few different wax figures than I did? I'm not sure if you will but I guess it's a possibility.
If you have any comments, drop them below in the comment section.
And follow my Twitter here.
Thanks for reading.
Best regards,
Matt