Casa Herrasti, the Mazatlan mansion that was a military barracks

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Casa Herrasti is considered an architectural beauty of Mazatlan for its eclectic style; It was the headquarters of the University of Mazatlan and UNITESIN.

MAZATLAN.- Walking through the historic center it is normal to find beautiful facades of colonial mansions that give Mazatlan that touch of yesteryear, but without a doubt, one of the most striking is the famous Casa Herrasti.

Do you locate it? Casa Herrasti was built in 1907 as the family home of Doña Francisca Rojas de Paredes, a direct descendant of Don Bonifacio Rojas who discovered the prosperous gold and silver mine of El Tajo in 1655. This led to the founding of the nearby mining town of El Rosario, Sinaloa.  

It now bears the name of Don Alejandro Herrasti, a Basque merchant who married into the family and was the last inhabitant of the residence. 

At the time of the Mexican Revolution, the Paredes left the country and the uninhabited house was taken over by revolutionary groups that occupied the city, as a military barracks along with other spaces, one of which was also the Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez school.

Where is Casa Herrasti located?

Located within the charming and well-preserved historic center of old Mazatlan, Casa Herrasti is just steps from the European-style boardwalk known as “Paseo Olas Altas.” 

The house’s signature architecture is an eclectic interpretation of classic elements artfully created with local materials and construction techniques that extends along its three grand street frontages that cover 23,680 square feet of multiple interior spaces in a lot of 13 thousand 993 square feet. 

We must remember that it was one of the first residential homes since in those years the construction in the area were dedicated solely to businesses. 

It is known as: Casa Herrasti or Paredes (by its owner) and is considered an architectural beauty of Mazatlan and more because it continues to preserve that neoclassical style from the 19th century to the Art Deco of the early 20th century, mainly influenced by European constructions. 

Its uses 

It has been used as a school by private higher-level institutions, and in 2016 it opened its doors for the Delfos company, which presented a work based on the house coming to life through human portraits. 

It was the headquarters of the University of Mazatlán and UNITESIN. 

Source: punto.mx

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