Lecumberri Prison: The history of Mexico City’s Palacio Negro

The Lecumberri prison, known as the Palacio Negro, was a notorious penitentiary in Mexico City that operated for 76 years. Inaugurated on September 29, 1900, under the approval of President Porfirio Díaz, the facility was designed by architect Lorenzo de la Hidalga. The design utilized a panopticon model inspired by Jeremy Bentham, featuring a central 38-meter surveillance tower and a star-shaped structure.

Despite an original capacity for 700 men and 80 women, the prison suffered from extreme overcrowding, with populations reaching 3,500 inmates. Reports indicate that cells designed for two people often held up to 18. The site was marked by violence, torture, and significant historical events, including the assassination of Francisco I. Madero and the repression of the 1968 student movement.

In 1977, the facility ceased its function as a prison and became the headquarters for the Archivo General de la Nación.