The pieces of the museum were acquired along 20 years by the renowned artist from Oaxaca, Rufino Tamayo Vargas, who would later donate his vast collection to the state. Besides, the master would influence in the decoration of the ambiences and halls of this corner of culture, located in the former seat of the Holy Inquisition, a colonial building from the XVIII century.
The museum shows include mainly Zapoteca and Mixteca objects, and others from the different cultures that developed in Guerrero, Colima, Michoacán, Chiapas and the Valley of Mexico, amongst others.
These pre Hispanic beauties represent three phases (early, intermediate and late) from the Pre-classical, classical and postclassical periods of the Mesoamerican peoples, arranged chronologically from the year 1600 BC up to the year 1521 AD.
Address: 503 Morelos Avenue, Oaxaca
Telephone: (52-951) 516-4750
Working hours: Wednesdays through Mondays from 10:00 hours up till 14:00 hours, and from 16:00 hours up till 19:00 hours; and from 10:00 hours up till 15:00 hours on Sundays
Entrance: 30 Mexican pesos
Museum of Contemporary Art: it is the fruit of a cultural project created to better preserve, promote and spread the local, national and international fine arts; it has 13 rooms, three with permanent exhibitions of local artists, and the remaining holding temporary shows.
The museum opened its doors in February 1992; its seat is a splendid colonial building erected by the late XVII century, declared historic monument for being one of the top exponents of the state's civil architecture. It is said that the land it is on was the property of conquistador Hernan Cortes, Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca.
Address: 202 Alcala Street, Colony Centro, Oaxaca
Telephone: (52-951) 514-2818
Working hours: Wednesdays through Mondays from 10:30 hours up till 20:00 hours
Entrance: 10 Mexican pesos, free entrance on Sundays
Juarez House Museum: this modest colonial house, which was the property of Antonio Salanueva, is famous for having housed the illustrious Benito Juarez, known as the Meritorious of the Americas, in 1818.
Personal objects belonging to Benito Juarez can be appreciated in this small though interesting historic museum, along with old furniture, photographs and documents related to three important moments in the history of Mexico, as are the War for Independence, the Reform and the French Invasion.
The museum opened its doors to the public in December of 1974.
Address: 609 Garcia Vigil Street, Colony Centro, Oaxaca
Working hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 hours up till 17:00 hours; and from 10:00 hours up till 18:00 hours on Sundays
Entrance: 30 Mexican pesos
Museum of Philately: it is the first of its kind in Mexico and it was conceived to spread this singular pastime that began in England in 1856, which consists on collecting and studying postal elements such as rubber stamps, regular stamps and envelops, amongst others.
Inaugurated on July the 9th of 1998, collections of stamps from Mexico, and especially from Oaxaca, are displayed in its permanent and temporary halls, besides an interesting variety of stamps and rubber stamps from different countries from the rest of the world.
Its seat is the former printing house of the state's official newspaper.
Address: 504 Reforma Avenue, Colony Centro, Oaxaca
Telephones: (52-951) 514-2366 / 514-2375
Website: www.mufi.org.mx/
Working hours: Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 hours up till 20:00 hours
Entrance: Free entrance
Museum of Popular Art: with an artistic legacy that dates back to over eight thousand years ago, Oaxaca's handicraft, expression of the sensibility and creativity of its inhabitants, gathers not only the traditional character of its 17 indigenous peoples, but also the crossbred and African contributions that took place after the conquest.
Due to these unique qualities and characteristics, the fusion of the different ways of interpreting life, and the cultural clash amongst the peoples, the artworks of Oaxaca are of great transcendence in the national and international ambits.
The museum was conceived as a space for the promotion of the works of the different artisans of Oaxaca, besides being a bridge between the works of the local creators and the current tendencies and waves of popular art in the country and the world.
Different manifestations of Oaxaca's art production are exhibited in its four rooms, with the pottery standing out, mainly the original and traditional pieces made of black clay in Coyoatepec, besides other creations in wood, textiles and tinworks.
Its seat is a notable building that blends in a superb manner, modern features with pre Hispanic architectonic characteristics inspired on the constructions of Monte Alban and Mitla.
It is located in the Town of San Bartolo de Coyoatepec, the main pottery centre of the state, at 15 kilometres from the City of Oaxaca.
Address: Independencia Street unnumbered, Centre of San Bartolo, Coyoatepec, Oaxaca
Telephone: (52-951) 551-0036
Working hours: Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 hours up till 18:00 hours
Entrance: 20 Mexican pesos
