The Foundation Area is an important urban complex made up of different architectural elements: Pedro del Castillo Square, the Foundation Area Museum, the San Francisco Ruins and the adjacent section of O'Higgins Park. The Foundation Area Square rescues the site where The City was founded on March 2, 1561. The most significant buildings of the old urban area were built around it. Colonial Mendoza was devastated 300 years after its foundation by an earthquake (on March 20, 1861). The Cabildo, located in the sector where the Museum was later established, disappeared as a result of this great earthquake. Later, a slaughterhouse (1877 - 1927) operated on this site, and then a Municipal Fair (1940-1980).

The Museum, a work carried out by the Municipality of Mendoza -initiated and developed during the management of Dr. Víctor Fayad, and inaugurated in February 1993- enables the investigation, protection and dissemination of this urban historical-archaeological heritage that represents the origins of the City. The Foundational Area has an annual calendar of popular events among which 'Anniversary of the Foundation' (March 2) and 'Celestial and White City' (week of May 20-25) stand out. Courses, book presentations and plays such as 'Huellas' (which recreates the foundation of Mendoza) are also held.