17/04/2026
On April 16, 1964, an extraordinary feat unfolded—one that would remain etched in the memory of thousands of Mexico City residents who witnessed it: the transport of what is considered the fifth-largest monolith in the world, from Texcoco to the newly built National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
Behind this event lies a remarkable story, marked by heavy rain and social unrest.
That day, thousands of people gathered along the streets where the convoy carrying the colossal stone would pass. But where had it come from?
The monolith originated in San Miguel Coatlinchán, a community in Texcoco located about 53 kilometers from Mexico City. Its existence had been known since the late 19th century, but in 1903 a major debate arose over whom the sculpture represented.
On one side, archaeologist Leopoldo Batres argued that it depicted Tlaloc, the Mexica god of rain. On the other, Alfredo Chavero claimed it represented Chalchiuhtlicue, the Mexica goddess of lakes and flowing water, and Tlaloc’s consort.
For many years, the monolith remained there, lying horizontally and forming part of the local identity, where it was known as “the Stone of the Tecomates.” That changed when President Adolfo López Mateos requested a representative piece to be placed at the entrance of the National Museum of Anthropology. It would become the centerpiece of the museum’s inauguration in September 1964.
Tlaloc was ultimately chosen. Although an agreement was reached with the community in 1963 to move the monument, some residents opposed its removal and attempted to block its transport. The following day, army troops arrived to restore order, secure the monolith, and guard it for several months until the transfer could proceed.
On April 16, 1964, the massive stone—seven meters tall and weighing 167 tons—made its way through the town streets atop a 24-meter-long platform attached to two trailers. Moving at just 5 km/h, the convoy traveled along part of the Puebla highway before continuing down Zaragoza Avenue.
The procession required extraordinary maneuvers. Sections of roadway infrastructure had to be modified, and as it passed through major avenues, dozens of technicians—assisted by firefighters—temporarily cut power and telephone lines to clear the way.
As night fell, the convoy paused in San Lázaro. Then, at exactly 8:40 p.m., an intense storm broke over the city, flooding several areas. The skies seemed to open, unleashing torrential rain that many attributed to the powers of the rain god himself. From that moment on, the monolith became widely known as Tlaloc.
The convoy passed through the Zócalo and continued toward Chapultepec. It was nearly midnight when the monolith reached its new home along Paseo de la Reforma—a historic and unforgettable moment for the people of Mexico City.
Despite the late hour and the storm, the day turned into a celebration. Along its route—from the Zócalo to Chapultepec—the monolith was met with loud applause from crowds of residents, tourists, and reporters.
That day, some 60,000 people witnessed the journey and arrival of Tlaloc at its new resting place.
