The history of Mexico winds along the walls of the main staircase of 2829 16th Street, part of Mary Foote Henderson's diplomatic enclave and once the country's embassy.
Painted by the artist Roberto Cueva del Río, who began work on the mural in 1931, the sweeping series depicts various scenes floor-to-ceiling scenes - the Tehuantepec Festival of the Flowers; a rural scene from Ixtaccihuatl and Popocatepetl, scenes of industrial Mexico, the landing of Columbus and pre-Columbian Mexico and others.
The dramatic images grace three floors' worth of walls and their landings, adding vivid color and life to the interior of the Beaux Arts mansion on 16th Street that is virtually undetectable from its stately, austere, exterior.
It's a stunning display now publicly accessible in a building once shrouded in secrecy.Read The Mysterious Mansion With Mexico's History Written on Its Walls on Diplomatica now.
Back when the United Kingdom was part of the European Union, their parties were the highlights of EU Open House. But since 2019, when it last participated, the UK has left the EU, a pandemic struck, and the Ambassador's residence underwent significant renovations; all of which postponed what might have otherwise been an awkward transition to Around the World day, (colloquially called Passport DC) which is observed by non-EU countries.
Cue 2023, and the coronation of a new king, which offered the perfect opportunity to both participate in Passport DC for the first time as a non-EU country, and to showcase the ways in which, EU or not, the UK embassy maintains its own, distinctive place in Washington.
Read about their Sidewalk Coronation Celebration on Diplomatica.
Summer's here, which means many members of the diplomatic and international communities will be moving on to their next post. We'd love to stay in touch! As part of your leave-taking checklist, please keep Diplomatica in mind.
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May the road rise up to meet you on your journey.
Special thanks to Juanita Wheeler of Full & Frank for supporting Diplomatica.