If you’re looking to explore a lesser-known but deeply fascinating corner of Mexico City’s historic district of Coyoacán, the Museo Casa de León Trotsky offers a compelling journey. This house-museum was the actual home of the Russian revolutionary León Trotsky during his exile in Mexico, and the exact spot where he was assassinated in 1940.

Here’s why it’s worth the visit:

• After being forced into exile in 1929 because of his outspoken criticism of Joseph Stalin, Trotsky eventually found asylum in Mexico in 1937—with help from Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
• The museum retains the house largely as it was when Trotsky lived there: you’ll see his study with papers and books exactly where they were, bullet holes still visible in the walls from an earlier assassination attempt, and a garden with his cactus collection and the memorial stele designed by Juan O’Gorman marking the site where his ashes rest.
• Wandering through, you get a tangible sense of the intense historical moment: the clash of ideologies, the danger of exile life, and the idea of Mexico City as both sanctuary and witness.

Why You’ll Love It

For visitors from the United States especially, this museum offers something fresh—a blend of political history, personal drama, architecture, and neighborhood charm. It’s not just another “art museum”; it’s a lived-in space of one of the 20th century’s most dramatic stories. You walk into the house, and you can feel the tension, the refuge, the finality.

Tips for Your Visit

• Plan to go in the morning, when it’s quieter and you can take your time absorbing the rooms.
• Read a little about Trotsky’s life beforehand if you can—knowing the background (exile, ideologies, the assassination) makes the visit more meaningful.
• Don’t rush: the garden and watchtower remnants are part of the story, offering a pause from the city and a moment for reflection.
• Combine this visit with a stroll around Coyoacán: cafés, markets, and tree-lined streets make for a relaxed after-museum excursion.