Guatemala City

Guatemala City was initially established as the Spanish colonial city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala on July 6, 1538. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala, an important administrative region for the Spanish Empire. However, the city was moved years later following a series of earthquakes, ultimately settling in the location of present-day Guatemala City, officially founded here in 1776.

The Santa Marta earthquake struck Guatemala on July 29, 1773. It was one of the largest seismic events in the region, destroying much of the original capital of the Spanish colonial kingdom of Guatemala, Antigua. The earthquake resulted in the decision to move the capital to a place then called 'La Ermita', which later became Guatemala City. The relocation was aimed at reducing the risk of future seismic destruction.

Guatemala declared independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. This date is a pivotal moment in Central American history as Guatemala, along with other Central American countries, left the Spanish Empire to form their own political entities. Guatemala City became an important center for the new governing authority and the subsequent years were marked by transitions and regional conflicts.

The October Revolution began in Guatemala City with a strike by teachers and students on June 25, 1944. The movement was against the dictatorship of Jorge Ubico, leading to Ubico’s resignation. This was followed by a progressive military coup that installed a provisional government, inviting fair elections. The October 1944 Revolution marked the beginning of a democratically driven reform period in Guatemala.

The 1944 Guatemalan Revolution began on October 20 when a group of dissident army officers overthrew the dictatorship of Federico Ponce Vaides. This revolution was supported by a coalition of students, teachers, and workers seeking democratic reforms. It resulted in the election of Juan José Arévalo, a university professor with progressive ideals, who became Guatemala's president and initiated social and political changes.

On June 27, 1954, the U.S. CIA orchestrated a coup d'état in Guatemala City, deposing democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz. The operation, deemed PBSUCCESS, was justified by the Cold War sentiments and the threat perceived from Árbenz’s land reforms and alleged communist affiliations. The coup destabilized the region, leading to decades of political unrest and civil war.

On February 4, 1976, a major earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck Guatemala, causing widespread damage to Guatemala City and other areas. The earthquake resulted in approximately 23,000 deaths and left over a million people homeless. It was one of the deadliest earthquakes in the history of Central America, highlighting the vulnerability of the region to seismic events.

On January 14, 1985, Guatemala witnessed the restoration of civilian government with the inauguration of President Vinicio Cerezo. After prolonged military rule and civil conflict, Cerezo's presidency marked a turning point towards democratization and peace efforts. His government laid the groundwork for continuing civil reforms and negotiations with insurgent groups to end Guatemala's internal strife.

The Guatemalan Civil War officially ended on December 29, 1996, with the signing of peace accords in Guatemala City. The war, which lasted 36 years, was one of Latin America’s most prolonged conflicts. It resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 people, mostly civilians. The accords paved the way for reconstruction and reconciliation efforts in the country.

On March 11, 2001, a massive fire broke out at one of the central markets in Guatemala City known as 'Terminal Market'. The fire devastated large sections of the market, destroying hundreds of vendor stalls and injuring several people. The incident underscored the limitations in urban fire safety and the challenges faced by emergency services in responding to such large-scale urban fires in Guatemala City.

On September 3, 2015, Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina resigned amid a massive corruption scandal known as 'La Línea'. After widespread protests and a congressional vote to lift his immunity, Pérez Molina stepped down. His departure, following key arrests and investigations by Guatemalan authorities and international anti-corruption bodies, highlighted systemic issues within the government.