1865年，在法国拿破仑三世的援助下，统治墨西哥的马克西米里安·约瑟夫皇帝指定隔摩涅达大道上与今日首都的国家宫殿北侧相对的建筑物为国立博物馆。第二次世界大战以后，随着藏品的不断丰富，原有的旧馆已经不能满足储存藏品的需要，于是在罗培斯·马特奥斯任墨西哥总统时，设计建造了新的人类学博物馆，于1964年9月落成开放。

 博物馆大门口 ，有一座用整块大石雕成的"雨神"，它高8.5米，重168吨;院中还立有一根图腾大铜柱，柱上有一个巨大蘑菇顶，顶上蓄水，向四面喷洒，象一个"雨泉"。都寓意古代墨西哥人所渴望的水，强调水在推动墨西哥文化发展中的作用。

博物馆分两层。第一层有12个陈列室，统称"古代文化遗产"。陈列人类学、墨西哥文化起源，以及欧洲人来此之前墨西哥各族居民的文化和生活实物，系统介绍德奥蒂化坎、托尔特卡、墨西卡、瓦哈卡、墨西哥湾、玛雅、北部和西部8种墨西哥印地安文化 。第二层10个陈列室，展出印第安人的服饰、房屋式样、生活用具、宗教仪器、乐器、武器等，统称"现代印第安人的生活"。全馆参观路线总长5千米。

"古代文化遗产"的12个陈列室，是4000年来古代印第安各族人民留下的文化遗产的一个缩影。

大约3500~4000年前，墨西哥中南部开始出现以种植玉米为主的定居村落，同时出现了以制造陶器、陶俑、碑石为主的初期宗教文化艺术，这些，通过大量出土实物标本加以佐证。

繁荣于2300~3200年前的奥尔美加文化的象征作品是"巨石头像"，这里陈列着一个出自圣罗林索遗址的巨石头像，高2.28米，重达30吨，玄武岩质，鼻低唇厚，具有非洲黑人特征。

2000年前，墨西哥进入了神殿与都市的繁荣时期。当年墨西哥城北50千米的德奥蒂化坎都市遗址复原模型，包括太阳金字塔、月亮金字塔、水神殿以及其他宗教建筑，反映了当时的文化特征。

古典玛雅文化，全盛时期是在公元150年以后，公元700年到800年之间达到鼎盛阶段，公元900年后突然绝迹了。它的起源、形成和突然销声匿迹，迄今都是一个谜 。这里有一个反映玛雅文化的第9陈列室，展出了雕刻精细、富有立体感的石碑石雕;形式多样、结构复杂的各种神殿;久负盛名的库库尔岗石像、绚丽多彩的波南巴克壁画以及各种类型的陶俑、陶器，美不胜收。尤其是按照实体大小复原布置的帕兰凯王墓，宽4米、长9米、高7米 ，墓室的雄伟、墓盖深雕的精美，翡翠面具及饰物的豪华，把玛雅文化展示得更加突出。

" 现代印第安人的生活 "，表现了作为玛雅和阿兹特克的后裔而生存下来的印第安人的生活，虽然他们在墨西哥沙漠地带或原始森林中度着严峻的日子，但还保持着他们的民族特色。展品色调鲜艳，丰富多彩，给人以深刻印象。在墨西哥居民中约有700万印第安人，分属82个不同部族，使用56种语言。

 墨西哥人类学博物馆以它独特的富有魅力的藏品在世界博物馆界独树一帜。它的藏品不仅反映了墨西哥，也反映了整个美洲早期文明的进程，第一次向世界人民展示了美洲人民辉煌的历史。参观了这种著名的博物馆，人们惊叹古代美洲人卓越成就的同时，就会抛却长期形成的历史偏见。你会认识到，印第安人并非如西班牙入侵者所描绘的那样是一个野蛮、未开化的民族，而是一个曾经辉煌一时的民族，他们对世界文明的发展也起到了重要的推动作用

 The Mexican Museum of Anthropology began with the discovery and preservation of the Solar Calendar. "Solar Calendar Stone" is the worship of Aztecs. In 1520, when the Spanish ravaged the Aztec capital, the worship was buried underground. Until 1790, the solar calendar was discovered again. It was excavated from the ground and preserved and studied as a precious historical and cultural heritage, thus the activities of the Mexican Museum began.

In 1865, with the assistance of Napoleon III of France, Emperor Maximilian Joseph, who ruled Mexico, designated the National Museum as the building on Gomoneda Avenue opposite the northern side of the National Palace in the capital today. After the Second World War, with the increasing abundance of collections, the old museum could no longer meet the needs of storage. So when Roberts Matteos was President of Mexico, a new museum of anthropology was designed and constructed, which was opened in September 1964.

At the entrance of the museum, there is a "god of rain" carved from a large stone, which is 8.5 meters high and weighs 168 tons. In the courtyard, there is a big totem copper pillar with a huge mushroom roof on which water is stored and sprayed on all sides, like a "rainspring". Both imply the water that ancient Mexicans longed for, and emphasize the role of water in promoting the development of Mexican culture.

The Museum has two floors. The first floor has 12 showrooms, collectively known as "ancient cultural heritage". It presents the anthropology, the origin of Mexican culture, and the cultural and living objects of Mexican inhabitants before Europeans came to Mexico. It systematically introduces eight Mexican Indian cultures: Deotihuakan, Tolteka, Mexica, Oaxaca, Gulf of Mexico, Maya, North and West. On the second floor, there are 10 showrooms showing Indian clothes, house styles, daily necessities, religious instruments, musical instruments, weapons and so on, collectively known as "modern Indian life". The total length of the tour route is 5 kilometers.

The 12 showrooms of "Ancient Cultural Heritage" are a microcosm of the cultural heritage left by the ancient Indian peoples over the past 4000 years.

About 3,500-4,000 years ago, settlements mainly planting corn began to appear in south-central Mexico. At the same time, the early religious culture and art mainly making pottery, terra-cotta figures and stone tablets appeared. These were supported by a large number of unearthed physical specimens.

The symbolic work of Olmega culture, which flourished between 2300 and 3200 years ago, is the "giant stone statue". There is a huge stone statue from the site of San Laurinso. It is 2.28 meters high and weighs 30 tons. It is basalt and has a thick nose and lips. It has the characteristics of African blacks.

2000 years ago, Mexico entered a period of prosperity in shrines and cities. The restoration model of Deotihuakan, 50 kilometers north of Mexico City, including the Sun Pyramid, the Moon Pyramid, the Water Temple and other religious buildings, reflects the cultural characteristics of that time.

The classical Mayan culture reached its peak between 700 and 800 A.D. after 150 A.D. and suddenly disappeared after 900 A.D. Its origin, formation and sudden disappearance have been a mystery so far. There is a 9th showroom which reflects Mayan culture. There are exquisite and three-dimensional stone tablets and carvings, various temples with various forms and complex structures, the famous Kukul Gang stone statues, colorful Bonanbak murals, and various types of terracotta figures and pottery. Especially the Palancai tomb restored according to the size of the entity is 4 meters wide, 9 meters long and 7 meters high. The majesty of the tomb chamber, the exquisite carved tomb cover and the luxury of jadeite masks and ornaments make the Mayan culture more prominent.

"Modern Indian life" reflects the life of the Indians who survived as descendants of Maya and Aztec. Although they lived in the Mexican desert or primitive forest, they still maintained their national characteristics. The exhibits are colorful and impressive. There are about 7 million Indians in Mexico, belonging to 82 different tribes and using 56 languages.

The Mexican Museum of Anthropology is unique in the world museum circle with its unique and attractive collection. Its collection not only reflects Mexico, but also reflects the process of the early civilization of the whole Americas. For the first time, it shows the glorious history of the Americans to the people of the world. Visiting this famous museum, people marvel at the remarkable achievements of ancient Americans, but at the same time, they will cast aside the long-formed historical prejudice. You will realize that the Indians are not a barbaric and uncivilized nation as described by the Spanish invaders, but a once glorious nation, which has also played an important role in promoting the development of world civilization.