Where It's Located
The Tampico Mexico Temple is located at:
Av. Ejercito Mexicano #74 Con 3A Av.
Colonia Loma del Gallo
89480 Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico
The temple is in Ciudad Madero, one of the twin cities that make up the Tampico metropolitan area.
The temple sits on a 2.96-acre property.
Getting There
For travelers coming from outside the region, General Francisco Javier Mina International Airport serves the Tampico metropolitan area.
Because the temple is located within the urban area of Ciudad Madero, visitors can easily combine a temple visit with sightseeing throughout Tampico and the surrounding Gulf Coast.
The temple currently has a distribution center on site, but there is no public visitors' center, arrival center, or patron housing.
Why Tampico Needed a Temple
The Tampico Mexico Temple was built during a period of significant Church growth in the region.
The area had grown from one stake to four stakes in approximately 25 years. The temple district eventually included approximately 18,000 Latter-day Saints, organized into four stakes and three districts, along with the Mexico Tampico Mission.
For these members, a temple in their own region represented a major improvement in accessibility.
Temple Announcement
The Tampico Mexico Temple was announced on July 8, 1998.
The announcement came as part of a period of rapid temple expansion throughout Mexico.
At the time, many members in the Tampico region were traveling considerable distances to attend the Mexico City Mexico Temple.
The Long Journey to Mexico City
Before the Tampico Temple was built, members in the area faced an approximately 500-mile journey to Mexico City.
The trip was particularly difficult because of the Sierra Madre mountain range, which made the first portion of the journey from the Gulf Coast toward Mexico City challenging.
The new temple therefore wasn't simply a convenient addition.
It substantially reduced the travel time and expense for members living around Tampico and Ciudad Madero.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on November 28, 1998.
Eran A. Call presided over the ceremony.
Construction then moved quickly.
Less than two years after the groundbreaking, the temple would be open to the public.
Public Open House
The Tampico Mexico Temple held its public open house from April 29 through May 6, 2000.
The open house lasted seven days.
The event allowed members of the public to tour the completed temple before its dedication.
Dedication
President Thomas S. Monson dedicated the Tampico Mexico Temple on May 20, 2000.
The dedication made it the 83rd dedicated temple in operation.
The temple became an important spiritual center for Latter-day Saints throughout the Tampico region.
Architecture
The Tampico Mexico Temple contains approximately 10,700 square feet of floor space.
The building rises approximately 71 feet.
Its relatively compact size reflects the needs of its temple district while still providing the necessary ordinance facilities.
White Mexican Marble
One of the most interesting architectural details is the temple's exterior.
The building is finished with Blanco Guardiano white marble from Torreón, Mexico.
Using locally sourced Mexican marble gives the temple a particularly strong connection to the country where it was built.
The white exterior also gives the building a bright appearance under the strong Gulf Coast sunlight.
The Angel Moroni Spire
The temple features a single attached spire topped by an Angel Moroni statue.
The spire provides the temple with its most recognizable architectural feature.
Unlike temples with multiple towers or large central domes, the Tampico Temple has a simple, compact profile.
Temple Facilities
Despite its relatively small footprint, the temple contains:
- Two instruction rooms
- Two sealing rooms
- One baptistry
The instruction rooms use a two-stage progressive design.
These facilities allow the temple to accommodate the major ordinances performed by Latter-day Saints.
The Temple Grounds
The temple's 2.96-acre property gives it room for landscaped grounds around the building.
Its relatively compact design allows the temple to fit naturally into the surrounding urban neighborhood of Ciudad Madero.
A Gulf Coast Temple
The Tampico Mexico Temple has an interesting geographic setting.
Tampico sits along Mexico's Gulf Coast, giving the temple district a distinctly coastal character.
The area is known for its warm climate, beaches, waterways, and tropical vegetation.
That makes a temple trip here quite different from visiting temples in Mexico's highland cities.
Exploring Tampico
Tampico and Ciudad Madero offer plenty for visitors to explore.
The area combines:
- Gulf Coast beaches
- Historic architecture
- Mexican food
- Waterfront attractions
- Wildlife
- Local markets
- Tropical scenery
Playa Miramar
One of the area's biggest attractions is Playa Miramar, a long Gulf Coast beach in Ciudad Madero.
The beach is popular with both locals and visitors and provides an easy way to experience the Gulf of Mexico.
It's especially convenient because it's located in the same city as the temple.
Laguna del Carpintero
Laguna del Carpintero is a lagoon located near central Tampico.
The surrounding area provides walking paths, recreational areas, and views of the lagoon.
One of the unusual attractions is the population of American crocodiles found in the lagoon.
Visitors should observe them from designated safe areas rather than approaching them.
Tampico Historic Center
Tampico's historic center contains numerous buildings reflecting the city's economic importance during Mexico's early 20th-century oil boom.
The Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Libertad, and surrounding streets are good places to experience the city's historic architecture.
Tampico's Oil History
Tampico became one of Mexico's most important oil-producing regions during the early 20th century.
The city's oil history helped fuel enormous economic growth and shaped much of its architecture and culture.
That history is still visible throughout the region.
Mexican Gulf Coast Food
A trip to Tampico is also an opportunity to try regional cuisine.
Because of its coastal location, seafood is particularly popular.
Visitors can find dishes featuring:
- Shrimp
- Fish
- Crab
- Octopus
- Ceviche
Tampico is also known for Tampiqueña-style steak, a famous Mexican dish associated with the city.
Why the Tampico Temple Matters
The Tampico Mexico Temple is a good example of how temple construction can dramatically change the lives of local members.
Before its construction, members faced a difficult journey of roughly 500 miles to Mexico City, including challenging terrain through the Sierra Madre.
The new temple brought those ordinances much closer to home.
A Story of Rapid Growth
The temple was directly connected to the growth of the Church in the Tampico area.
The region had expanded from one stake to four in about 25 years, creating a sufficiently large membership base to support its own temple.
The temple is therefore a physical reminder of the Church's growth along Mexico's Gulf Coast.
Local Materials, Local Members
There is also a nice connection between the temple and Mexico itself.
The temple's exterior uses Blanco Guardiano white marble from Torreón, Mexico.
The building was therefore constructed using a distinctly Mexican material while serving a growing Mexican membership.
Current Status
The Tampico Mexico Temple is currently operating.
Key milestones include:
- Announcement: July 8, 1998
- Groundbreaking: November 28, 1998
- Public open house: April 29–May 6, 2000
- Dedication: May 20, 2000
- Current status: Operating
Planning a Temple Visit
Latter-day Saints planning to visit should check the temple's current operating schedule before traveling.
The temple has a distribution center on site, but there is no public visitors' center, arrival center, or patron housing.
Because the temple is located in Ciudad Madero, visitors can easily combine temple attendance with a trip to Playa Miramar, Tampico's historic center, and the surrounding Gulf Coast.
Final Thoughts
The Tampico Mexico Temple is a relatively small temple with a significant impact.
Announced on July 8, 1998, it was built during a period of rapid Church growth in the Tampico region. The area had grown from one stake to four in roughly 25 years, and approximately 18,000 Latter-day Saints lived within the temple district.
Before the temple was built, members living around Tampico and Ciudad Madero often faced a difficult 500-mile journey to Mexico City. The Sierra Madre mountains made the trip even more challenging. The Tampico Temple substantially reduced the time and expense required for these members to attend the temple.
Groundbreaking took place on November 28, 1998, and the temple was opened to the public less than two years later. President Thomas S. Monson dedicated it on May 20, 2000, making it the 83rd dedicated temple in operation.
Architecturally, the temple stands out for its Blanco Guardiano white marble from Torreón, its single attached spire, and its Angel Moroni statue. The 10,700-square-foot building contains two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry.
For Latter-day Saint travelers, a trip to the Tampico Mexico Temple offers the opportunity to combine temple worship with Gulf Coast beaches, Mexican food, historic Tampico, Laguna del Carpintero, and the fascinating history of a temple that brought sacred ordinances much closer to thousands of Mexican Saints.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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