Housed in a magnificent 18th-century baroque building that once served as a Jesuit seminary, this museum houses one of Mexico's finest collections of pre-Columbian art, colonial paintings, and natural history. The anthropology section showcases outstanding Jalisco clay figurines and artifacts.
The Regional Museum of Guadalajara occupies a former 18th-century Jesuit seminary building on the Plaza de la Liberación, and its baroque stone facade and colonnaded interior courtyard are as much a highlight as the collections inside. The ground floor houses one of Mexico's strongest regional archaeology collections, including western Mexico's distinctive shaft-tomb ceramic figurines from Jalisco, Colima, and Nayarit, along with a mounted mammoth skeleton found near Zacoalco. Upstairs, colonial-era rooms display religious paintings, period furniture, and decorative arts from Jalisco's viceregal period. A visit covering both floors takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours, with the pre-Columbian ceramics gallery on the ground floor generally the most rewarding stop for a first-time visitor. The interior courtyard, with its stone arches and central fountain, is a good spot to pause and also one of the best photo opportunities in the building. Weekday mornings shortly after the 9AM opening are quietest, while weekend afternoons bring more local families and school groups.
Good to know
- Hours
- Tue-Sat 9AM-5:30PM, Sun 9AM-3:30PM
- Best time
- morning
- Best for
- history buffs, culture lovers, families
Location
Liceo 60, Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jalisco
20.6753, -103.3443 View on map
Highlights
- Western Mexico shaft-tomb ceramic figurines from Jalisco and Colima
- Baroque former Jesuit seminary building with a colonnaded courtyard
- Mounted mammoth skeleton found near Zacoalco, Jalisco
- Colonial-era religious paintings and viceregal decorative arts
Tips for visiting
- The pre-Columbian pottery collection is world-class
- Audio guides available in English and Spanish
When to visit
Weekday mornings shortly after the 9AM opening offer the quietest galleries.
Accessibility
The ground floor and courtyard are level and accessible, though the upper colonial-art galleries in the former seminary are reached via a staircase without an elevator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit take?
A full visit to both floors takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Is it worth it for kids?
Yes, the mammoth skeleton and pre-Columbian figurines tend to draw strong interest from children, especially with the English and Spanish audio guides.
Is photography allowed?
Photography without flash is generally permitted throughout the museum's galleries and courtyard.