ORIZABA - Palacio de Hierro - Gustave Eiffel (english)

Originally built to be the Government Headquarters for the City of Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico at the end of the XIX Century. Orizaba was at that time, the 5th most important city in the nation and the richest in the State of Veracruz. Considered the most educated and cultured city in the country during President Porfirio Diaz regime. Reason from which, a good number of it's foreign inhabitants migrated to Orizaba to test their luck and furtune(mainly during the last half of the 1800's): French, Swedish, Irish, English, Spaniards, Italians, Americans and Germans established themselves in Orizaba to start a new venture, business or company. This Inmigrant influx brought to the city the taste for the 'international' culture and the latest European trends. On September 26,1891, with the support of the citizenry and the State's Government, Orizaba's Mayor, Sr. Julio M. Velez, gave the order to the Societe Anonyme des Forges D´Aiseau, of Belgium to build an exceptional and unique construction that would represent the modernity and financial status of Orizaba in Mexico. A palace that would showcase Orizaba's International Status. The Belgian company offered the project to the architect with most prestige and fame in Europe, the one that with his most innovative and original techniques could designed such an important building, they called the French-German Engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. Following his great triumph at the Paris Fair in 1889, with the presentation with his famous tower, Eiffel conceived a Palace completely built of metal structure, fully demountable. The cost was in excess of 71, 000 pesos in gold, mainly supported by the granted loan the illustrious philantropist and Orizaba's native did, Sr. Don Manuel Carrillo Tablas. The rest was covered by the State and the Municipality as well. The complete cargo (3369 boxes plus the metallic structure) was shipped to the Port of Vera-cruz from Antwerp in 3 separate steamships: the Paris, the Vala and the Haver. At their arrival to Vera-cruz, the cost of the unloading and transportation to Orizaba's mountains requiered of 10,000 pesos more, wich it was covered, once again, by the city's patron, Sr. Carrilo Tablas. The hi cost of construction propossed by the Belgian company forced the city to employ only the structure's blue-prints to assemble the giant metal palace. The City hired a team of Mexican Architects and specialized workers. The team was commanded by the mexican engineers, Arturo B. Boca (foundations) and Ricardo Segura (construction). The assigned lot was the city's old Army Plaza in between the City Hall and the current Municipal House (present -and out of place- Alvarez Zardain Building). The old trees that embellished the plaza for centuries were transplanted to the Alameda. The grand inauguration was held on the eve of September 16, 1894 along with the festivities of Mexico's Independence. Exactly a year after it's construction had started. Among the famous guests was Sr. Don Teodoro A Dehesa, Governor of the State of Vera-cruz.
The Palacio de Hierro (Iron Palace) worked as municipal headquarters for the city for 97 years. In 1991, Architect Isaias Rodriguez Vivas -city's Mayor- gave the executive order to move the government seat to the much larger CEO Palace. Today, the Palacio de Hierro hosts within it's walls the Museums of Beer and Archeology, a Library, a Tourism Office and a Coffee Shop. Lately, the gardens and the sorrounding streets had been remodeled and refurbished by the current Municipal President, Lic. Juan Manuel Diez Francos who has given priority to the cultural and ecological rescue of Orizaba.
Because of it's original characteristic -metallic construction-, the Palacio de Hierro requires constant repairs and maintenance. We hope soon we'll be able to enjoy the original beauty of the ONLY demountable metallic Art Nouveau Palace in the World, a true world's Architectural Jewel. The Iron Palace is listed among the 10 most important architectural achievements of Gustave Eiffel, among the Statue of Liberty in New York City and his famous Tower in Paris. Some of his works have been named Cultural Treasures by the countries they belong to.........the beautiful Palacio de Hierro is still waiting for the cultural and historical recognition that it deserves.

ORIZABA
the Magic City

MonjaAlferez09
.

(Please, see the attached list of copyright credits in the main page)

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[Ruy24]

Awesome. The last time I spoke to My Mother about the palace she said she was trying to get the city to recognize him with a plaque on the Palace. She will be excited to hear someone is making a Video!! Thank you.

[MonjaAlferez09]

There's no much interest from the gob to bring attention to the true beginning of our Historical Monument because there are financial interests for the space that occupies @Ruy24. We were about to see a Shopping Mall in his walls sometime ago, sad but true. MA09 / admin

[MonjaAlferez09]

No hay mucho interes por el Gobierno para atraer atencion al verdadero origen de nuestro Historico Monumento por los intereses financieros del espacio que ocupa @Ruy24. Por poco pudimos ver una plaza comercial dentro de sus paredes hace algun tiempo, triste pero verdadero. MA09 / admin

[MonjaAlferez09]

For years I've asked the Municipal Government to erect a statue in honor of your grandfather, Don Manuel Carrillo Tablas @Ruy24, but I had not even gotten any response at all. I will continue working for that to be a reality one day. Nobody had done so much for Orizaba than your grandfather did more than a century ago. Cheers, MA09 / admin

[MonjaAlferez09]

Por muchos agnos le he pedido al Municipio de Orizaba que se eriga un monumento a la memora de tu abuelo, Don Manuel Carrillo Tablas @Ruy24, pero sin haber obtenido respuesta alguna. Continuare haciendolo para algun dia que se convierta en una realidad. Nadie hizo tanto por Orizaba como lo hizo tu abuelo hace masde 100 agnos. Saludos, MA09 / admin

[Ruy24]

Thank you for posting this Video and the History of this wonderful place. My great great grandfather on my mother side is Sr. Don Manuel Carrillo Tablas. I have yet to visit but was happy to find this Video. Thank you.

[MonjaAlferez09]

I also have a book that I started writing years ago about the life and times of your grandfather and family. Crucial not only for the great development of Orizaba in the XIX century, but for all Mexico as well.

Thank so much for being in contact with me, I appreciate the gesture. Happy new year. Cheers, MA09 / admin

[keasand]

As an art curator, the finding of a Gustave Eiffel construction in Mexico is a total revelation, and with such a gorgeous pressence. As I mentioned before, Mexico is a country full of surprises. I just wonder why nobody knows about this beautiful city? Is it supposed to be a secret? Known only by Mexicans?

Thank you for making available your well kept garded secret.

[jessgrub]

Fabulous video. It shows the timeless beauty of one of the icons of that era. The time when beauty and arquitectural achievements were the norms of the day.

Gustave Eiffel never visited Mexico,but with this wonderful construction, his presense is forever part of the beautiful landscape of the city of Orizaba.

Thank you MonjaAlferez98 for making with this video an homage to one of the greatest architects of the world in the XIX century.

Orizaba and the world will be forever thankful.

[MonjaAlferez09]

I' feel honored that one of Don Manuel Carrillo Tablas is a fan of this channel @Ruy24. Your grandfather was an important key for the development and the history of Orizaba. I have a video in the making about your grandfather's legacy in the old city. Stay in touch and you will be the first one to receive this beautiful video.

[MonjaAlferez09]

If you have a chance, look for the orchestrated arrangement that Claude Debussy made for the same piece, it's no less than amazing. Thank you for watching. Cheers, MA09 / admin

[MonjaAlferez09]

@7rphillips, it's the famous piece "Gymnopedie No 1" (I: Lent et douloureux) of Eric Satie, of the "Trois Gymnopedies" series. I highly recommend to listen the three, they all are a wonder of the Impressionist Period. Cheers, MA09 / admin