In my opinion, the Museo de la Memoria y Tolerancia (Museum of Memory and Tolerance) is one of the museums that best deals with history, contexts, social issues and simply puts a lot of things into context, shows the right intensity and presents the whole thing correctly, without a lot of frippery and yet with the necessary emphasis. I honestly thought the museum was really, really good. The reason why I haven’t been there a second time is simply because it’s a heavy museum that leaves you feeling thoughtful and a bit moody. Simply because social grievances such as discrimination, racism and sexism as well as genocides and the like are thematised and presented and also ‘dealt with’, so to speak.

As a German, for example, I usually can no longer see museums about Nazi Germany. Not because it’s not important to keep reminding people of it. Something like that must never happen again, of course. Nevertheless, three quarters of my history lessons at school consisted solely of this topic and everything in which Germany ever appears in any history museums is on this subject. Almost exclusively, at least. And we’re not the only ones who really screwed up. Only those who have at least tried and are trying to deal with it properly – and I’m not saying that it always works out the way it should. All I want to say is that Spain, for example, really screwed up in Latin America. And America as we know it today is run by people who most likely originally descended from Europeans. I don’t even want to start with the British (can I even leave out a continent?). Not to mention all the things that have been done to Africa.

To close the circle of this small abstract: the museum in Mexico City naturally focuses on Nazi Germany. And that is right and proper. But other stages in the history of genocides or civil wars are also covered. What I want to say is that it is more all-encompassing and takes a very broad look at the history of mankind. And I personally found that incredibly interesting. Of course, it was also terrifying and frightening, but…. The museum showed that the whole world is affected by certain problems, that they are overarching. And I think it did that quite well.

For example, there were sections on LGBTQ+ (please forgive me if I forgot a letter. It’s not intentional, I just honestly lost track), the development of this whole movement and the question of gender and how ‘girls’ or ‘boys’ are raised. Questioning, of course. There was also a wax museum where I couldn’t even begin to understand what exactly it was doing there. But it was still cool 😀 Oh, and a hall of mirrors towards the end – great for running into something 😀

I can’t and won’t list everything I saw in there, what was thematised or what was there. I just thought the museum was really well done, very all-encompassing and for the first time since… my school days I think, I thought the Nazi era in Germany was actually presented well, as well as to an interesting degree for me. And that’s not as easy as you might think as a non-German.
My personal favourite room was the one where the social problems – at least the ones that I also consider to be the most important – were shown. Classism (poor, rich etc), sexism (inequality, gender-based violence etc), homophobia, racism and accessibility. Again, I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but those are the one that stuck to my mind the most.

Go or not? Yes, definitely. As I said, I think the museum is extremely well done and would recommend anyone to go in. It’s a bit heavy, but I still think it’s one hundred per cent worth it and if you go – which I hope you do – plan a day. Because the thing is big and a lot 😀