Palacio de Lecumberri, National archives in Venustiano Carranza, Mexico.
Palacio de Lecumberri is a civic building in the Venustiano Carranza borough that now functions as Mexico's national archive. The central rotunda is surrounded by several long wings radiating outward from the center, connected by wide corridors.
The building opened in 1900 during the presidency of Porfirio Díaz as a prison and operated in that role until 1976. Four years later, it became the national archive, with the cells converted into document storage areas.
The former prison layout remains visible as you walk through the corridors, where filing cabinets now stand instead of cell blocks. Many doors still carry their old numbers, reminding visitors of the building's original function.
Researchers find extensive photographic collections and historical records here, accessible through a card catalog with help from specialized staff. Visitors planning to explore the building should allow time for long corridors and wear comfortable shoes.
Two well-known inmates escaped from this prison: Pancho Villa in 1912 and Dwight Worker in 1975, who walked out disguised in women's clothing. These two escapes remain among the most famous episodes in the former prison's history.
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