DURANGO.- Every building has a story, and for the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) Center in Durango, that story is now being told through a captivating photographic exhibition. Sharing its home with the Bicentennial Cultural and Convention Center, the INAH offices are nestled within the historic walls of what was once the Juana Villalobos Boarding School.

To honor this shared past, one of the building's exhibition spaces has been transformed into a permanent display titled "Memory and Heritage: Stories of the Juana Villalobos Boarding School." The exhibit, featuring 22 striking photographs from the INAH Durango Center's own archives, takes visitors on a visual journey from 1904 to 1948, revealing the many lives this building has lived and the people who passed through its doors.

"We wanted the photographs to speak volumes beyond what words could say," explained Adolfo Martínez Romero, head of Museums and Exhibitions for INAH Durango. "These 22 images explicitly illustrate the various eras of the building's use, telling the story of the place and its former residents."

The venerable structure, which has housed the INAH Center since 1996, began its life in 1899 with an ambitious plan to be a hospital. However, a halt in construction due to lack of funds by 1904 led to a different destiny. Four years later, it hosted the IV Regional Fair of Durango. Its history continued to intertwine with major events: during the Mexican Revolution, parts of it served as an infantry and cavalry barracks until 1916. Later, it became the "Sons of the Army" school in 1937, educating military children, before officially becoming a boarding school in 1940 and finally taking on the name "Juana Villalobos" in 1942, under state government control.

The boarding school operated until 1996, when it transitioned into a cultural hub, welcoming both the newly formed Institute of Culture of the State of Durango and the INAH Durango Center.

Marcia Lazalde Nájera, who oversees the INAH Durango Center's photo library, noted that the exhibition hall itself, renovated in 2010, has now been officially named "Juana Villalobos" in honor of the distinguished Durango teacher. While "Memory and Heritage" is a permanent fixture, Lazalde Nájera confirmed that it will be "constantly updated with new testimonies and photographs" as they continue to receive donations, ensuring the story remains alive and evolving.

Beyond the permanent display, the center is also hosting a compelling temporary exhibition, "Faces and Roots: Women of Durango, through photography (1890-1960)." This collection features 54 images from the María Rosa Fiscal Collection and the INAH Durango Center's own fototeca, offering a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives, spaces, and expressions of women during that era – with a unique focus on images where no men are present. This exhibition runs until November 2025, before making way for a joint show with the Juárez University of the State of Durango, celebrating 70 years of its School of Painting, Sculpture, and Handicrafts.

Visitors can also explore the INAH Durango Center's archaeological hall, which proudly displays 130 artifacts from the ancient Chalchihuites culture, who flourished in the Guadiana Valley between 600 and 1350 A.D., leaving behind sites like La Ferrería.

The INAH Durango Center's exhibition hall is open Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and admission is free. It's a must-visit for anyone eager to connect with Durango's layered history, told through the compelling lens of photography.