Bécal Community Museum

1. Galería de Arte MCL Profesor Mariano Castañeda Linares: The permanent painting exhibition showcases works by talented young artists who participated in national contests in 2013, 2014 and 2015, along with works by local artists and pieces from Becal’s emerging young painters group. The gallery space covers 160 square meters. 2. Palapa de historia: The hat history is housed in a rustic palapa, describing the jipí palm (Cardulovica palmata) used to make hats that position Becal as the Maya hat capital. The palm weaving skill predates the arrival of the Spaniards and weaving was perfected in caves. Hat weaving was the region’s most important economic activity from 1866 to about 30 years ago, a tradition that is now fading. 3. Palapa de Arte-Objeto: The palapa exhibits antique manual mills used in peninsular cuisine; machetes symbolizing resistance of Maya peoples during the Caste War; sewing machines simulating jaguar skin, which is endangered and should be conserved as one of the emblematic animals of the Mexican southeast; it also contains marine fossils dating about 10,000 years old, identified by the geological layer where they were found, with the most important fossil being a petrified coral. All objects in this room were donated by community members. 4. Jardín Botánico: A 2,990 m2 area (130 m long x 23 m wide) displays 135 plant species native to the Yucatán Peninsula, including medicinal, ornamental, edible, timber and fruit-bearing plants. At the garden entrance stands a sacred ceiba tree for the Maya (yaxché), around which the creation story according to the Popol Vuh is told; likewise, the Cardulovica palmata is shown, used to produce jipí hats. A free-expression space painted by children aged 5–8 is also present. There are also recycled elements such as glass, plastic, concrete blocks, and metal structures. 5. Insectario: This insectarium presents regional specimens of spiders, beetles, ants, bees, centipedes, wasps, scorpions, dragonflies, true bugs, butterflies and praying mantises. Insects are the most successful biological group; there are about 1.5 million insect species—more than all other animal groups combined—potentially representing more than 90% of life on the planet. 6. Cueva: Hats made from jipí palm are produced in caves that maintain high humidity, allowing artisans to manipulate the fiber more easily to make hats and various crafts.