History
The origins of the town of Guanajuato can be traced back to the sixteenth century. The Spanish conquistadors made their first forays into the region during the period of intense activity in the decade beginning in 1520. However, it was between 1540 and 1546 that the region today known as Guanajuato was granted to Rodrigo Vazquez by Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza, in reward for his service during the Conquest. The territory was to be used as ranch land for major livestock.
It was probably between 1548 and 1554 when the incidental discovery of abundant silver deposits was made, mainly at the mines of San Bernabe and Rayas. This discovery brought about the birth of Guanajuato as a town. From that moment on, the traffic and settling of mineral prospectors was constant. In 1557, the image of the Virgin Mary arrived in Guanajuato, a gift from the king. Since then, the image has been venerated as Our Lady of Guanajuato.
Slowly, livestock ranches were pushed northward to allow for the development of Guanajuato, which was, by 1570, already officially recognized as a town. The town developed along the banks of the river that passes through it. This was for practical reasons--the processing of the ore and the production of food for the population required an abundant source of water. On October 26, 1679, by way of an official decree from Viceroy Payo Enriquez Afan de Ribera, the town was elevated to the category of "villa," meaning a town of greater importance, and in 1741 King Philip V granted the town the title of Most Noble and Loyal City of Santa Fe y Real de Minas de Guanajuato.
The city reached high levels of prosperity during the eighteenth century due to the great mining bonanza. Such was its splendor during the period that various residents, the heads of mining operations, became nobles. These figures included the Marquis of San Clemente, the Marquis of Rayas, and the Count of Valenciana, among others. The year 1767 saw the expulsion of the city's Jesuit priests. This had a profound impact on the city, especially where education was concerned. During the period of Guanajuato's splendor, the majority of the churches which can be seen today were built.
In 1786, as ordered by the Spanish crown, the territory of New Spain was administratively divided into twelve provinces. One of these provinces was Guanajuato, which was thus no longer dependent on the province of Michoacán. The first governor of the province was Andres Amat de Tortosa, who was later replaced by Pedro Jose Soriano, who, in turn, was replaced by the most important of the provincial governors, Juan Antonio de Riaño y Barcena.
The presence of Riaño is significant as he was a benefactor of the city. His status as such, as recorded by the historian and Guanajuato native Lucas Alaman, is clearly demonstrated by the magnificent buildings erected in the capital and throughout the province during his administration. He himself supervised these construction projects. Riaño's wife, Victoria de Saint Maxent, was a dedicated supporter of young Guanajuatans who yearned for an education.
Governor Riaño began the construction of the granary known as the Alhondiga de Granaditas, which was designed to guarantee the townspeople a constant supply of grain. The construction was begun in 1798 and finished in 1809. The Alhondiga was the site of the bloody clash between the insurgent army headed by Miguel Hidalgo and the Spanish who had taken refuge in the granary turned fort. The confrontation took place on September 28, 1810, during the first battle in the struggle for Mexican independence.
In 1826, the first Mexican constitution was ratified, which converted Guanajuato into a free and sovereign state of the Mexican Republic. The first governor, Carlos Montes de Oca, was a dedicated supporter of education in the state. He was the force behind the reopening of the original College of the Most Holy Trinity, founded by the Jesuits, and the old College of the Immaculate Conception, run by Oratorian priests. The latter was to become the State College.
Noteworthy figures during nineteenth-century Mexican history include governors of the state, such as the liberals Manuel Doblado and Florencio Antillon. On January 17, 1858, President Juarez temporarily established the capital of the Republic in Guanajuato, due to the constant persecution leveled against him by conservative factions. During the period of the French Intervention, newly-installed emperor Maximilian of Hapsburg visited the city in September, 1864. It was he who ordered the conversion of the Alhondiga de Granaditas into a prison.
In the year of 1867, after Maximilian's empire was brought down, the restoration of the Republic began. Florencio Antillon was named governor of the state, and he remained in power until January, 1877, when he was unseated by followers of General Porfirio Diaz. Antillon began the construction of the majestic theater Teatro Juarez in 1872.
During the historical period known as the Porfiriato, spanning from 1877 to 1911, Guanajuato saw the construction of important buildings such as the current Legislative Palace, the Mercado Hidalgo market, the Monument to Peace and the Monument to Hidalgo at the city reservoir and park Presa de la Olla. Also during this period, the Teatro Juarez was inaugurated and the railway was introduced, among other things.
The promotion of foreign investment (American, German and British) to reactivate the mining industry was also an important part of the period. The last Porfirista governor of Guanajuato, Joaquin Obregon Gonzalez, commenced construction on the Cuajin tunnel and the reservoir La Esperanza, both projects directed by preeminent engineer of the time Ponciano Aguilar.
In the twentieth century, during the Mexican Revolution, the city endured the effects of a severe economic and social crisis. It was occupied in July of 1914 by troops of General Alberto Carrera Torres. Later, in February, 1916, President Venustiano Carranza visited Guanajuato and arranged the purchase of grain to alleviate the terrible famine which was upon the city.
In the year of 1946, the State College went through a transformation to become the University of Guanajuato. During the decade of the 50's, projects were devised for the near total restoration of the city. The main building of the University was built as was the reservoir Presa de la Soledad; the street Calle Belauzarán was laid upon the old river bed; work began on the conversion of the Alhondiga into a museum, and the promotion of tourism in Guanajuato also began.
Soon after, construction was completed on the city's underground street and the scenic/panoramic highway. The annual International Cervantino Festival began in 1972.
