# Timeline of Guatemala City

The following is a timeline of the history of Guatemala City, Republic of Guatemala.

## Prior to 20th century

* 1776 – Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncion founded, following destruction by earthquake of former Spanish colonial capital Antigua.
* 1778 – Population: 10,841.
* 1779 – City becomes capital of Spanish colonial Captaincy General of Guatemala.
* 1789 – Plaza Mayor fountain erected.
* 1793 – Consulado (merchant guild) established.
* 1813 – Cathedral of Guatemala City inaugurated.
* 1823 – City becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America.
* 1831 – Sociedad Economica museum established.
* 1835 – Capital relocated from Guatemala city to San Salvador.
* 1858 – Theatre founded.
* 1874 - Earthquake.
* 1879 – Gas street lighting installed.
* 1880 – Population: 58,000.
* 1882 – Horse streetcar begins operating.
* 1885 – Electric street lighting installed.
* 1893 – Population: 72,000.
* 1898 – National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology established.

## 20th century

* 1905 - Population: about 97,000.
* 1917 – December 17: Earthquake.
* 1918 – January 4: Earthquake.
* 1921
** Airport built.
** Population: 121,000.
* 1924 – Zoo founded.
* 1934 – Museo Nacional de Historia y Bellas Artes (museum) opens.
* 1935 – Torre del Reformador (tower) and Obelisco (monument) erected.
* 1940
** Guatemala Post Office Building constructed.
** Population: 186,000.
* 1943 – National Palace rebuilt.
* 1949 – Club Social y Deportivo Comunicaciones (football club) formed.
* 1950
** Estadio Mateo Flores and Estadio del Ejército (stadiums) open.
** City hosts 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games.
** Population: 284,276.
* 1957 – National Library of Guatemala new building opens.
* 1966 – Del Valle University of Guatemala founded.
* 1971 – Francisco Marroquin University founded.
* 1973 – Population: 706,920.
* 1975 – Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno "Carlos Mérida" established.
* 1976 – February 4: 1976 Guatemala earthquake.
* 1978 – National Theatre opens.
* 1984 – El Mezquital occupied.
* 1990 – Population: 1,675,589 (estimate).
* 1991
** Estadio Cementos Progreso (stadium) opens.
** Óscar Berger becomes mayor.
* 1996 – Álvaro Arzú becomes President of Guatemala.
* 1997 – Tikal Futura shopping mall built.
* 1999 – Club Premier hi-rise built.
* 2000
** Fritz García Gallont becomes mayor.
** Galileo University founded.
** Domo (arena) built.

## 21st century

* 2001
** City hosts 2001 Central American Games.
** Population: 1,022,001.
* 2002 – Museo Miraflores (archaeological museum) founded.
* 2004
** Guatemala City Railway Museum inaugurated.
** Álvaro Arzú becomes mayor again.
* 2005 – March: Protest against Central American Free Trade Agreement.
* 2007
** February 19: Salvadoran congressmen killings discovered near city.
** February 23: Sinkhole collapse.
* 2009 – Guatemala National Police Archives headquartered in city.
* 2010 – May 30: Sinkhole collapse.
* 2012 – July: Teacher unrest over upscaled requirements of studying a University degree to become a teacher in the country.
* 2013 – Air pollution in Guatemala City reaches annual mean of 41 PM2.5 and 56 PM10, more than recommended.
* 2018 – June: 2018 Volcán de Fuego eruption occurs in vicinity of city.