MEXICO CITY.- The collection of the National Museum of Interventions (MNI) is formed by more than 600 weapons from different origins and ages, from 18th to 20th centuries. From knives to cannon balls, these items give testimony of history of Mexico and its non-intervention politic tradition.

“Our country’s history can be recreated through war technology” commented historian Raymundo Alva, chief of Educative Communication Area of the museum part of National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

Weapons exhibited become witnesses of each battle, as well as flags and decorations that help us understand each historic period, and link us with our past.

Museum halls follow chronologically the different foreign armed interventions suffered by our country between 1825 and 1916. Historical pieces were part of the National Museum of History “Castillo de Chapultepec” and the Artillery Museum founded by Porfirio Diaz; other items have been donated by particulars.

The exterior walls of this museum still show bullet tracks of the battle fought against North American army in August 20th 1847. The hall dedicated to this intervention is one of the most important due to its contents and extension, exhibiting weapons from Texas, Cerro Gordo, Matamoros and Monterrey battles, such as sables, spades and daggers.

The French Intervention Hall shows a New Spain cannon used in the May 5th 1862 battle. Rifles such as those used to execute Emperor Maximilian, as well as his death mask are exhibited there.

Items designed for agriculture such as machetes are in exhibition, representing civil uprising and guerrillas.

The last hall is called Mexican Revolution, and Mouser and Winchester rifles are shown here. A North American machine gun, one of the most feared in both sides of the struggle, is also exhibited.

Regarding weapon maintenance, Raymundo Alva declared that due to the excellent conservation state they present, they require only periodic cleaning, but if needed, intervention is immediate.

The National Museum of Interventions (MNI) is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00; the admission fee is 41 MXP, and senior citizens, teachers and students with valid identifications, as well as children under 13, do not pay. On Sundays, admittance is free for Mexican citizens and residents.

The museum is located in 20 de Agosto Street, Colonia San Diego Churubusco, Coyoacan, Mexico City.