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Three doors provide access to the impressive interior of this executive palace. The door on the right is for diplomatic access only and is also the door used by the President of Mexico. The door to the left was formerly used by the Finance Department and was dreaded by all who had to enter to settle their taxes. The central door is the main entrance and leads into a grand central courtyard.

Diego Rivera painted his exquisitely colorful and detailed masterpiece on the walls of the central staircase from 1925–35. It provides an incredibly rich and vibrant visual history of the Mexican people from pre-Hispanic times through the Mexican Revolution. Full of life and whimsy, the mural captures the very essence of the nation.

The second floor hallway has nine murals by Rivera painted from 1941–52. Eight portray idealized views of village life before Cortés came. The ninth shows a village after Cortés’ arrival.

Padre Miguel Hidalgo rang this bell in 1810, when he called for Mexican Independence. The bell was moved here in 1896 by Porfirio Díaz.

The President’s office, bedroom, dining room, parlor, and other interesting memorabilia from his time in office are featured in this museum.

A delightful botanical garden lies secluded in the inner courtyard at the back of the palace just beyond the entrance to the Benito Juárez Museo. It is quiet, peaceful, and sheltered from traffic noise. Walk the geometrically placed, paved garden paths or sit on a shady bench and enjoy one of the city’s prettiest gardens.

The beautiful main courtyard inside the palace features a lovely fountain with a statue of Pegasus, the Greek winged horse. Government functions are held here.

This simple but elegant staircase with its ornate brass railings has only two flights of stairs and no visible support.

On Mexican Independence Day, September 15th, the president of Mexico stands on this balcony just above the central door of the palace and repeats Padre Miguel Hidalgo’s famous call for Independence (see Mexican Independence ). Thousands of spectators gather on the Zócalo to witness the event.

With impressive pomp and ceremony a large Mexican honor guard marches out of the Palacio Nacional each morning and crosses the street to the Zócalo where they raise an enormous Mexican flag. All the hustle and bustle in the plaza halts as the flag is raised in a formal drill. The ceremony is repeated every evening when the huge flag is lowered.