Introduction.

Hi everybody, this blog was created for our EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY class. We enjoyed making it and also we learned about the essential history of Chetumal. For this reason, the purpose of this blog is to let people know the most important places in Chetumal and a little history of each place. This blog is directed to any kind of audience who is interested in knowing the essential history of Chetumal. It begins with an introduction about Chetumal's history, followed by a biography about who was Othón Pompeyo Blanco. Afterwards, you will find pictures in chronological order about the four museums of the city, eight historical monuments and the five outstanding parks.

Payo Obispo's foundation

The Mexican Caribbean in Internet

On April 1897, the House Zuvich delivered to the Mexican government a ship called Pontoon Chetumal. The Pontoon came to Campeche's port tug by a steamship of the Mexican company in May of the same year where the commander Othón Pompeyo Blanco waited for instructions of the Federal Government to continue his march to Chetumal's Bay; but since there was a need to cross for Belize, the wait was major because he also wait for official documents.

From there the Iberian steamship tug the Pontoon Chetumal and in its tour up to Chetumal's Bay, increased the crew members.

The crossing was late, slow and terrible, because often the Pontoon was adrift by the cables that suffered burstings.

The governor of Belice, Colonel Wilson; received Othón Pompeyo who explained to him the intentions of the mexican government to establish in national waters (Chetumal's Bay) a maritime and frontier custom in order to have a better understanding with the Mexican laws.

The Pontoon Chetumal, which was tug from Belize to Chetumal's Bay in a time of 11 hours approximately, came to the mouth of the Rio Hondo on January 22, 1899.

During the dismantling some trees were left as protection along the river, to prevent that other crew members who were dealing in the Rio Hondo were not able to notice the advance of the new population. For May there were dismantling four thousands meters in front of the beach and three thousands towards the bottom, remaining and routing the streets and three avenues. On May 5, 1898 Othón P.Blanco founded officially the population of Payo Obispo.

Oral interview with Professor Ignacio A. Herrera Muñoz (town chronicler)

About Othón Pompeyo Blanco..

According to the study conducted by Professor Ignacio A. Herrera Muñoz (town chronicler). Othón Pompeyo Blanco Núñez de Cáceres was born in March 7 of 1868 in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. He studied in the Military School of Chapultepec. On December 20,1893 he was ascended to Lieutenant of Corvette of the Naval Army in Mexico. In 1897 he was appointed Administrator and Commander of the Ponton Chetumal to establish the sovereignty between Mexico and England, arriving at the opening of the Rio Hondo on January 22 of 1898 and in May 5 of the same year he founded the population of Payo Obispo. He cooperated in the harbor defense of Mazatlan in 1912 and carried out different positions later, he obtained several decorations and reached the degree of Rear admiral. He died in October of 1959 in Mexico city.

Museums

In Chetumal you can find different historical places to visit but we only focus our weblog in the following ones, although it does not mean that the other should be less important.

Cultural Center of Fine Arts:
From 1939 to 1989 was considered the first school in Quintana Roo. Now this building is the Cultural Center of Fine Arts,which house the Museum of the City and the Minerva theatre.
Mayan Cultural Museum:

It was inaugurated in 1993 and is considered the largest museum of the State dedicated to the Mayan Culture.

Museum of the City:

It was inaugurated in March 1999, here you can find historical documents, photographs, furniture, weapons and other objects about the history of Chetumal's foundation.

Cultural Polyforum Rafael E. Melgar:

It was inaugurated in 2008, here you can enjoy film festivals.

Monuments

We have too many important monuments in Chetumal. Although in this blog you will find the most essencial ones. But if you want to know the other ones you can visit us.

Monument to the flag:

It was the first monument built in Chetumal City in February 1943, is formed by a white obelisk that has a clock caratula in each one of its face.

Andrés Quintana Roo Monument:
It was inaugurated in the 70´s, is dedicated to Andres Quintana Roo ,in honor of who receives its name the state.

Lazaro Cárdenas del Río Monument:

It was inaugurated in January 1984 in honor of Lazaro Cárdenas, ex president of México, to whom recalls for to have re-established the Territory of Quintana Roo after his second suppression.

Cradle of the Crossbreeding Monument:
It was inaugurated in Octuber 1996 is located in the entrance of the City it has the form of a Mayan pyramid on which the statues are found of Gonzalo Guerrero, his wife Zazil-Há and the children of both, the first mexican mestizos.

Manatí Monument:

It was inaugurated in 1997 with the purpose of creating a lasting and eloquent message about the obligation to take care and to protect all the endangered species.

Renaissance Monument:

It was inaugurated in May 1998 , this monument express the will and renaissance of a town that knew to be raised of its adversity, as well as strange elements that happened during the hurricane Janet that whipped the city in 1955.

Monument to The Fisherman:

It was inaugurated in 1998, as an act of elementary justice, the government local command to carve a beautiful allegory in which stands out majestic the fisherman with its network; utensil that supports to capture the prized food.

Parks

Park of the Caymans:

It is the first park created in Chetumal city in the 40`s decades, its oficial name was "Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez" but due to the caymans that had, the town called it and continues calling "Park of the Caymans" although these are memory and history.

Venustiano Carranza Park (Las Casitas):

It was constructed in 1964, this park was the first to be constructed after "hurricane Janet"

Alameda park:

It was primarily the second jail "Aquiles Serdán". During the government of Mr. Margarito Ramírez.

Park of The Renaissance:

It was inaugurated in may 1998.This park is a symbol of the "hurricane Janet"

Comments

Making this blog was a great experience in which we learned a lot about the history of Chetumal. Using this blog will be very useful for everyone interested in learnig a little about Chetumal's history, including local people who are not aware about historical events in some important places in Chetumal. We hope you enjoy this work as we did, it is a very interesting blog. You won't regret to visit it!!!