Yet Another New Museum

Just a few blocks from the former convent of Sor Juana, I stumbled upon yet another one of Mexico City's many museums.  This one also opened recently, and it is dedicated to the Mexican Red Cross.  It is only the second Red Cross museum in the world, the other one being in Switzerland, where the organization was founded.

The Red Cross was founded by Henry Dunant, a native of Geneva, Switzerland.  In 1859 he witnessed the horrors of war at the Battle of Solferino during the War for Italian Independence.  Afterwards, he proposed the creation of a neutral organization to attend to the wounded in war.  In 1863, along with several associates, he founded the International Committee of the Red Cross.  In 1901 he received the first Nobel Peace Prize.

The flags of the organization are on display.  The Red Cross flag that we are familiar with is an inversion of the colors of the flag of Switzerland.  I knew that the Red Crescent flag is used in Islamic countries.  The third flag. however, was a mystery to me.

I asked one of the museum volunteers, and he explained that it is used for those who do not want the religious connotations of the cross or the crescent.  The only nation to use that flag is Israel.

The Mexican Red Cross was officially created in 1910 due to the efforts of Luz González Cosío.

The exhibits highlight the role of the Red Cross in national emergencies such as the catastrophic earthquake of 1985.

The uniforms of Mexican Red Cross workers are displayed.

The Red Cross paratrooper squad does aerial rescues in terrains that are difficult to access.

The increased popularity of mountain climbing as a sport led to the creation of a "high mountain" rescue squad.

The museum is small and is certainly not on any "must-see" list of attractions.  However, I learned a few things, so my visit was worthwhile.  Mexico City is said to be second only to London in the number of museums.  If new museums such as this continue to open, I wonder if someday the city will be number one.