Chihuahua, the state capital, is not a particularly tourist-oriented town but it is virtually inevitable that travelers seeking to explore the inner recesses of the state spend a night or two here as part of their itinerary.
The city was officially founded at the start of the eighteenth century and its historic buildings stand scattered around the busy downtown area. Paid for, in part, by a special tax on silver, the richly decorated, eighteenth century, triple-naved stone cathedral exemplifies the baroque, albeit it with numerous later additions and alterations. Also on the Plaza de Armas is Chihuahua's city hall.
Occupying centre stage in its conference room is this building's claim to fame: the largest conference table in the world, according to a Ripley's "Believe or not" column. This building, originally the site of a monastery, needed substantial repairs after being damaged by fire in the s.
Across the plaza, the Federal Palace built at the start of this century incorporates into its structure the much older tower containing the prison cell where Hidalgo was held for 98 days and, according to the tourist guides, fed on bread and water prior to his execution. The night before he was executed, Hidalgo, a gentleman to the end, inscribed a poem on his cell wall, thanking his guard and warden for being so kind to him.
Constructed between on the orders of Manuel Gameros, a mine engineer, it now houses exhibits on archaeology and history. At Reforma 5 is the Popular Art Museum Museo de Arte Popular , a modern building with exhibits detailing the life and customs of the Tarahumar Indian people, as well as a small "artesanias" shop selling handmade craft items.
