Museo de Sonora

The Museo de Sonora occupies the 19th-century state penitentiary in the heart of the city, and it is far and away the best museum in Hermosillo — and arguably the best in the entire state. The collection covers Sonoran history from pre-Columbian times through the present, with strong sections on the Yaqui, Seri, Pima, and Tohono O'odham peoples.

The building itself is the attraction. The thick-walled cells, the vaulted corridors, and the central courtyard create an environment unlike any conventional museum. Exhibits are well presented in Spanish with some English signage. Allow at least two hours. The museum is located in Jesús García Avenue in the historic centre; admission is inexpensive.

things to do museum history
A story
The penitentiary that houses this museum was the site of Mexico's last civilian execution — a hanging carried out in 1928. The execution chamber survives intact and is part of the permanent exhibition. The building held prisoners until 1979, when it was converted into a museum; the cells, corridors, and exercise yards have been repurposed as gallery spaces while retaining enough of their original character to make walking through them genuinely atmospheric.

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