In the Historical Center of the city of Colima, one block towards the south of the Main Garden or Libertad, by Degollado street, in the intersection with Independencia street.

You can acceed this place walking or by different means of transport, such as any of the urban bus routes, taxis and particular automobile.

According to the European influences during the porfiriato, the colimense society felt the necessity to count on a space that could be able to receive with dignity the theater and opera companies that frequently came to the city. The old Coliseum, called Mexican Pavilion, with its hay ceiling and wood gradins, was appropiated for comedians and circus people; it even was used for bull runs, but the new face of Colima demanded something better. So it arose the idea of building a theater according to the time.

The project was entrusted to Mr. Lucio Uribe - author of the Smaller Basilica and the Palace of Government -, who chose the sober neoclassic style for the exterior and the typical shape of horseshoe, lunette, and four levels of theater boxes or balconies for the interior. Unfortunately, the natural disasters and the periodic economic and political crises prevented that Mr. Lucio saw its complete work, because this was inaugurated September, 15th, 1883, before being finished, and already in use; the work was incomplete.

Given the date of his opening it could not have been another his name but Hidalgo; nevertheless, few months later and promoted by himself, the name of governor Francisco Santa Cruz was imposed. But in a spin of the history, with the death of Santa Cruz, and the end of the porfiriato, in 1914 a governor and revolutionary general, Mr. Juan José Ríos, ordered the replacement of the original name.

In that ground existed a house until the beginning of century XIX, which was property of the priest Hidalgo. When he left the town he donated it to the town hall so that it established its first gratuitous school. There is no evidence that this fact was considered when the theater was baptized.

Unfinished, the theater stayed in operation since its inauguration in 1883 until 1941, when its ceiling succumbed to the attack of the earthquake of that year. Twenty years it remained in ruins, until its reconstruction and re-opening in 1961. Since then to the date it has been object of several restorations and diverse improvements, all respectful of its architecture. In the most recent of 1997, it was equipped with modern systems of illumination and sound, generously donated to Colima by the town of Japan.

In its interior is a gallery of permanent exhibition and the Center of documentation of scenic arts Vera Vázquez.

Later, due to damages caused by several earthquakes, combined to the lack of maintenance, the building got weakened in a very lamentable state of inoperability; considering the increasing cultural activity of the city and the entity has demanded greater number of appropriate spaces for these aims. Therefore the authorities made the repair and remodeling of this valuable building, in the following aspects:

a). - Structural Reinforcing.

b). - Architectonic Spaces: Vestibule, cafeteria, corridors, seats area, stairs, offices, dressing rooms, forum, trasforum, pit, toilets, roofs and warehouses.

c). - Electrical, hydraulic and sanitary installation.

d). - Flameproof apparatus, Air conditioner, emergency electrical plant, curtains, seats, sound and video.

En el Centro Histórico de la ciudad de Colima, a una cuadra hacia el sur del Jardín Principal o Libertad, por la calle Degollado, en el cruce con la calle Independencia.

@COMO LLEGAR:

A este lugar puede accederse caminando o por diferentes medios de transporte, tales como cualquiera de las rutas de autobuses urbanos, taxis y automóvil particular.

A este lugar puede accederse caminando o por diferentes medios de transporte, tales como cualquiera de las rutas de autobuses urbanos, taxis y automóvil particular.

En el edificio se pueden encontrar los siguientes servicios:

* Baños.

* Servicio de teléfonos públicos.