La Maestranza, Industrial building in Pachuca, Mexico.
La Maestranza is a large industrial building in Pachuca with three levels and identical side facades whose windows are arranged vertically with corner pilasters made of stone blocks. The complex was equipped with advanced machinery for material handling, including cranes, elevators, and shelving for storing industrial supplies and mining parts.
The United States Smelting Refining and Mining Company acquired the property in 1906 and established workshops and a general warehouse near railroad stations. During the Mexican Revolution, the complex operated its own locomotives and freight cars to maintain material supply despite disruptions to railway service.
The site took its name La Maestranza from its role as a training center where master craftspeople, carpenters, and blacksmiths passed on their skills. This purpose shaped how the complex was understood as a place of skilled work.
The building is located near railroad stations in Pachuca, making it easy to find and showing its original connection to the rail network. Its three levels can be viewed, though visitors should be aware of varying heights and wear sturdy footwear.
The complex operated its own railroad system with locomotives and freight cars during the Mexican Revolution to remain independent from the damaged national network. This self-sufficiency was unusual for a facility of that era and shows how critical constant material supply was to its operations.
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