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Coahuila
Continuing west brings you to the state of Coahuila. The
Río Grande forms the state’s northern border, with Texas
on the other side of the great river. Like other border
states, foreign-owned
maquiladoras
have brought both
problems and hope to the people of this state.
The capital city of Saltillo is proud that two
national heroes were born there—Venustiano
Carranza, a revolutionary general called the “father of
the Mexican Constitution,” and Francisco Madero, the
man who put an end to Porfirio Díaz’s power in 1911.
The first inhabitants of the region around Saltillo
were Tlaxcalteca families, people who were weavers
and craftsmakers by trade. The area is still famous for
its colorful
serapes
. Every year, from July 18 to
August 3, visitors from all over the country and the
United States come to Saltillo for culture and
artistry to be found at the
Feria de Saltillo
.
San Luis Potosí
If you leave Coahuila by its southeastern corner, you will find yourself in the
central state of San Luis Potosí. In the 1500s, silver was discovered in the
state’s hills of San Pedro, and settlers came to the area hoping to make a
fortune. However, the silver was soon depleted; today the mines still function
but mainly as tourist attractions. In Real de Catorce, visitors can visit a ghost
mining town.
Mexican Facts and Figures
46
Francisco Madero
Venustiano Carranza