Hospicio Cabañas

Hospicio Cabañas is a museum and former hospital in the historic center of Guadalajara, Mexico. The complex consists of 23 courtyards surrounded by covered walkways and chambers that house art collections from different periods.

The complex was built between 1791 and 1810 as an orphanage and hospital following plans by Spanish architect Manuel Tolsá. The chapel received murals by José Clemente Orozco between 1936 and 1939, which are considered among the most important works by Mexican muralists.

Visitors enter through a main patio surrounded by arcades, where children once played in a space designed to shelter orphans and the vulnerable. The building now serves as a venue for contemporary exhibitions and performances that draw on its history as a place of care and learning.

The museum sits a short walk from Plaza Tapatía and opens six days a week, closing on Mondays. The flat layout with wide passageways allows wheelchair users to reach all rooms and courtyards without major obstacles.

One of the side rooms holds a collection of sketches and preparatory studies that show how Orozco worked out his murals. These drafts document the development of his compositions from early ideas to final execution on the walls.

Location: Guadalajara Municipality

Location: Guadalajara

Inception: 1810

Architects: Manuel Tolsá

Official opening: 1983

Floors above the ground: 1

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Operator: Secretaria de Cultura

Address: 44360

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-17:00

Phone: +523336681645

Website: https://museocabanas.jalisco.gob.mx

GPS coordinates: 20.67690,-103.33733

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:35