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area’s silver mines have brought prosperity and shaped the course of its history.
By the 1800s, the state supplied most of the silver that was minted into the
country’s coins. The capital city of Guanajuato became the commercial and
banking center of this entire thriving region.
However, the city’s wealth did little good for the ordinary people who lived
there, and in the 19th century, Guanajuato was active in the Mexican fight for
independence. Today, however, Guanajuato is a cultural center, sponsoring
performances of drama, classical music, and ballet. Diego Rivera, the famous
muralist, was born in Guanajuato, and his early works were deeply influenced
by his birthplace.
Querétaro
As you leave Guanajuato by crossing its eastern border, you will find yourself in
Querétaro, another central state that nestles in El Bajío’s fertile bowl. This small
state was important in Mexican history, for here the country’s current
constitution was drafted. Here too the emperor Maximilian was put to death by
Mexican Facts and Figures
48
A statue of a Spanish
missionary is silhouetted
against the evening sky in
Querétaro City. The blending
of Spanish and native cultures
produced the
mestizo
culture
that is dominant in Mexico
today.