The Templo Mayor was the principal temple of the Mexica capital of Tenochtitlan, first built around 1325 with twin shrines to the gods Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc atop a 45-meter pyramid. It was one of the first sights to greet Hernán Cortés in 1519 and was largely destroyed by Spanish conquistadors following the fall of the Aztec empire in 1521.
Excavations beginning in 1978 uncovered the temple’s remains along with more than 7,000 artifacts, leading to the museum’s opening on October 12, 1987. A visit begins outdoors among the excavated ruins of the ceremonial center before moving into the museum, where eight themed galleries built around a central model of Tenochtitlan cover ritual, economy, and daily Aztec life.
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours touring the ruins and museum together, with dedicated visitors sometimes staying up to three hours. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and closed Mondays; admission is free on Sundays.
