When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in Mexico during the 16^th century, the area now known as the state of Jalisco was populated by various indigenous groups, including the Huichols and the Chapalas. The Spanish officially founded the present-day city of Guadalajara in 1542, and named it after a town in Spain. It rapidly grew into one of  the most important cities in colonial Mexico and became a jumping-off point for expeditions into isolated regions of the expanding Spanish empire.

Guadalajara played an important roles during Mexico’s war of independence. Revolutionary leader Miguel Hidalgo used Guadalajara as a base for his government in 1810. During that same year, documents were signed in Guadalajara that abolished slavery in Mexico. Jose Clemente Orozco’s murals inside the Palacio de Gobierno depict this and other historic events led to Mexico becoming an independent nation.

The 20^th century saw Guadalajara grow into a cosmopolitan city and major manufacturing center. Tragedy struck in 1992, when a massive sewer-gas explosion destroyed part of downtown Guadalajara, killing over 200 people and leaving many more homeless. Guadalajara continues to mourn this sad event every year, but it has fully recovered and remains the proud city that it has always been.