The spacious National Anthropology Museum was built in 1964 and received a serious, 13 million dollar restoration in late 1990s. This remodel improved lighting, added English language signage for some exhibits, and provided space for 2,000 new artefacts. Touch-screen computers in most galleries provide a wealth of information, although this is given in Spanish only.

In 12 huge exhibition halls surrounding the ground-floor courtyard is Mexico’s finest archaeological collection, devoted exclusively to pre-Hispanic civilizations. After breezing through the first three rooms in a sort of crash course in anthropology, visit the remaining rooms in any order, as they are organized according to region. Since the collection is so large, it makes sense to concentration the cultures that interest you most.

Behind many of the galleries you will find outdoor patios and gardens sheltering stone sculptures and stelae, reconstructions of houses, and other fascinating, alfresco, large-scale exhibits.