Curious about the history of Mazatlan? It’s a city that’s packed with an exciting history – from bloody battles to romance to music to movie stars. Mazatlan is so much more than its unique gastronomy, beer, banda, coffee and shrimp!
Below are short bilingual videos that capture the history and many fun facts. With thanks to: Grupo Petroil, Consejo Centro Historico, Archivo Historico Municipal de Mazatlan.
Be sure to get your copy of “Mazatlan – Puerto con Historia, Historical Port” – an easy-to-read bilingual guide book. It’s filled with unexpected insights – and it’s factual too!
Mazatlán – Puerto con Historia, Historical Port.
By Sheila Madsen, November 2023
The second edition has just been released and updated!
This beautifully designed bilingual guidebook is unique, there’s not a single book like it. Two words come to mind: Finally. Consolidated. The book marries the past with the present and the stunning photography -black and white and colour – compliment the text just perfectly. All 148 pages are printed on an expensive glossy stock that allow the photography to pop.
Packed into a compact 8″ x 8″ format, this guidebook is bursting with historical facts and takes you into present day. For instance, El Faro /The Lighthouse guided sailors in 1857 by lighting massive bonfires. Today, Mazatlan has a proper lighthouse with electricity and a remodeled path to climb to the top of the cliff [Creston Hill] – 157 meters/515 feet. The author claims that if the wind is right you can hear the barking of the sea lions.
The guidebook is organized into 30 sections that cover such landmarks as The Belmar Hotel, the Machado Square, the Cathedral, Pino Suárez Market, the baseball stadium and a whole section on gastronomy.
The history and origins of Mazatlan are sprinkled throughout the pages so you don’t get “fact fatigue”. It’s a page turner, you want to see and learn what’s next. And it’s a fact, it’s factual – checked and re-checked by the entire team [listed below].
Ideal for tourists passing through, ideal for snowbirds and ideal for full-timers because it’s filled with unexpected insights – all consolidated. Finally!
[The Mazatlán Puerto con Historia e Histórica/ Historical Port is made possible by: author José Eduardo Valdaés in partnership with Maaike Hoekstra [Flavor Teller] ,Laura Medina [Casa del Caracol] .Currently you can buy it in Centro, at the bookshops, Casa del Caracoal, on south side of Constitución # 83, for $400. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., closed Sundays; or at Casa Etnika, Benito Juarez #1218 at Constitución, closed Sundays open from 10 am to 6 pm. ]
A Brief History of La Casa del Marino.
[History with thanks to Mazatlán Historical Port book, précis by Sheila Madsen, April 2025].
La Casa del Marino, The Seaman’s House, was a project promoted by the International Labour Organization, and President Manuel Avila Camacho inaugurated it on June 1, 1946. It is distinguished by a polished anchor, a symbol of a resting place and refuge for merchant sailors, regardless of their nationality, race or religion. Its other memorable monument is a canon overlooking the sea, since 1892, known as Fuerte 31 de marzo. The plaque honours the heroic fighters of the battle against the Cordelière frigate – commemorating the battle of President Juárez against the French in 1864. True, the cannon watches over the bay, but it was installed 28 years after the battle against the French!
For various reasons over the years, Casa del Marino closed and only opened for a few private events. During the 70 plus years, the building succumbed to rust and humidity. Around 2021, there was a push from the mayor of Mazatlan to rebuild Casa del Marino and the mayor eventually obtained permission from all parties involved. It had to be built exactly the same as the original house obviously with modern equipment. It was inaugurated in October 14, 2024. With the remodelling the architects converted it into a Maritime Museum and a Cultural Center, enjoying telling stories of the first deep-sea port in the Mexican Pacific. It is now open for events, many are free.
[Casa del Marino is located on the Malecon, ocean-side, two blocks north of Zaragoza. It is open every day from 10 am. to 4 pm. People often confuse the age of the cannon with the age of the building.]
