They celebrate the 87th anniversary of INAH

The Mornings sung by the group Son y un pastel, federal officials and workers celebrated the 87th anniversary of the founding of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), consolidated as one of the longest-standing and most respected institutions of the Mexican State.

“We are excited to celebrate the life of the INAH, an institution whose objective is the care, protection, safeguarding, study, research, dissemination and communication of the vast cultural, archaeological, paleontological and anthropological heritage of Mexico,” said Joel Omar Vázquez Herrera, director of the Institute.

The event took place in the Alcázar of the National Museum of History, in the Chapultepec Forest, where the official highlighted that the consolidation of the INAH has been a product of its humanistic sense and its permanent link with the ancient knowledge of the communities.

He highlighted that the institute manages 160 museums that during 2025 received more than 11 million 529 thousand visitors. “A public recognition to the National Museum of Anthropology, which exceeded the threshold of 5 million attendees,” he stressed. Regarding the management of 194 archaeological zones, he noted that they registered more than 10 million visitors last year.

Vázquez Herrera stated that, beyond study and research, INAH has become a strategic institution in large-scale projects for the country, such as the Mayan Train, northern railway projects, the repatriation of archaeological pieces and peace plans.

Looking to the future, he spoke of strengthening the territorial structure of the institute. “We have the firm intention of including the voices of the INAH centers in government decisions,” he said.

In her speech, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, federal Secretary of Culture, mentioned that since last year, and within the framework of this anniversary, the Pioneers initiative has been promoted to make visible the work of women at the INAH. “We are about to launch the first edition, which will recognize the role that they have had on different fronts within the institute,” he said.

The official thanked the workers for their commitment and highlighted the work of Diego Prieto, former director of the INAH. “The transformation and visibility of the work of living cultures is an initiative that will strengthen a central policy of the secretariat.”

He also pointed out that 200 million pesos have been allocated since 2025 for INAH schools, especially for a laboratory at ENAH to strengthen the research autonomy of students.

As part of the celebration, awards were given to María Guadalupe Cabuto Macías, Carlos Olmos Mendoza, Maya Lorena Pérez Ruiz, Alfonso Zamudio Castro, Adrián García and María del Carmen Reyna Pérez, INAH researcher.

After receiving the recognition, Maya Lorena Pérez Ruiz spoke out for updating public policies to debureaucratize the INAH, abandon the commercialization of culture, break the separation between culture and nature, as well as strengthen memory, identity and cultural heritage.