After breakfast, we headed off to Delores Hidalgo--the place where the fight for independence began. Formerly called "Delores," the name "Hidalgo" was added in honor of Miguel Hidalgo after Mexico gained independence from Spain. In the center of town, off the square, is the Father Miguel Hidalgo Church, which can be seen in the picture to the left and below. As Sam Hayes reminded us while we were there, the two reasons Spain came to Mexico were for the gold and silver mines and to spread Catholicism. Both of these are evident within the church environs.
Outside the church, we met with a long time friend of Sam Hayes, Pablo Garcia and his son, Juan Pablo, who live in Delores Hidalgo, and they joined us for on our tour there. Next, we went to the home of Father Miguel Hidalgo to see a museum set up that recreated his time there. In the gardens were "poinsettias," which we have imported into the US and created a much larger version. |
One of the more fascinating aspects of the trip was the tour of the Father Miguel Hidalgo Museum. As you enter this space, there is a mural depicting the initial struggle for independence (seen in the painting to the right). The story is that in 1810, Hidalgo called upon the people to revolt against the Spaniards. They broke into the jail in Delores (which is part of the museum) and freed the prisoners, many of whom were incarcerated for political acts. They put the Spaniards they had captured in their place. (We took a picture of the gate to the jail with some of the students and Dr. Kackley!) | The painting to the left above is of Miguel Hidalgo giving his infamous "cry of freedom" speech to the people to rally their support in overthrowing the Spanish government. The painting underneath it depicts the defeat of the Spanish, as represented in white by the "granary walls" controlled by the Spanish before Papila broke down the door and captured them, and the Mexicans on the left represented in the figure by individual people. |
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