Oaxaca is derived from the Aztec settlement of Huaxyacas, meaning “place of gourds”.
Oaxaca comes from the Nahuatl word “Huaxaco” which means “in the nose of the squash”.
Surrounding States:
N – Morelos, Puebla and Veracruz
S – Chiapas and Pacific Ocean
W – Pacific Ocean and Guerrero
Created: December 21, 1823 
State Capital:
Oaxaca 1823 – present
Highest Point : 12,205 feet ( 3720 metres ) – Cerro Nube Flan
Lowest Point: Sea level - Pacific Ocean
Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno) – Oaxaca
Location: Portal del Palacio / Calle Flores Magon
Built: 1834 – 1837
Style: Spanish Colonial
Architect: Francisco de Heredia
Contractor: Unkown
Description: The building faces north and is a two story light grey coloured stone structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on the south side of the Zocalo Oaxaca in the centre of Oaxaca. Built on the site of the old Casas Consistoriales, which building was ruined by an earthquake in 1801 and demolished in 1832. Along the north front, the centre section projects from the main building and has three large arches. To the east and west are seven arches each with a covered walkway and on the second story there are windows with small iron balconies. At the roof line In the centre, there is a raised bell tower with bell. The roof line is flat. In the interior, the east stairway has a mural depicting Oaxaca history by A Garcia Bustos. The Government Palace ( Palacio de Gobierno ) houses the Governor’s Office.
Old Legislative Palace (Palacio Legislativo) - Oaxaca
Location: Avenida Benito Juarez #703 / Calle Valetin Gomez Frarias
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces east and is a two story concrete structure The building is located along the west side of Avenida Benito Juarez on the west side of Parque Juarez in the center of Oaxaca and northeast of the Government Palace. Set back from the street, the buiding has a large opening on the south section. The building is faced with a light coloured stone and there is a recessed glass entrance on the south front. The roof line is flat. The building housed the Camara de Deputados of the State Congress (Honorable Congreso del Estado de Oaxaca). The building is now a red colour and has been converted into the office of the Secretary of Tourism. The new Legislative Palace ( Palacio Legislativo ) is located at Calle 14 Oriente #1 in San Raymondo Japlan to the southwest of Oaxaca.
Legislative Palace (Palacio Legislativo) - San Raymondo Japlan
Location: Calle 14 Oriente #1 / Boulevard Guadalupe Hinojasa de Murit
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The buildings face south and are a complex of three buildings located around a central plaza. The buildings are located in San Raymondo Japlan south of Boulevard Guadalupe Hinojasa de Muriit and to the southwest of Oaxaca. The building on the west side houses the Camera de Deputados. On the east and north sides of the plaza are two buildings which join at a square green colored glass tower at the northeast corner.
Old Justice Palace (Palacio de Justicia) - Oaxaca
Location: Avenida Independencia 1003 / Avenida Melchor Ocampo
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces north and is a two story pinkish-yellow coloured structure. The building is located on the southwest corner of Avenida Independencia and Avenida Melchor Ocampo in the center of Oaxaca to the northeast of the Government Palace. There are white coloured framed windows and door entrance with small iron balconies on the second story windows. The entrance door of the retangular shaped building is at the west side of the north front along Avenida Independencia. The roof line is flat.The Justice Palace (Palacio de Justicia ) housed the Tribunal Superior de Justicia but now stands empty as the court has moved to a new location at Vincente Guerrero south of Oaxaca on highway 131.
Government Palace – Oaxaca
Old Legislative Palace – Oaxaca
Old Justice Palace – Oaxaca
Photos taken 2004