Casa Popenoe

Casa Popenoe (Sitio Escolástico, 6 Calle Oriente #16, Antigua) – this house, which
was originally built during the 18 th century, was bought by American agricultural scientist
Wilson Popenoe in 1930. Popenoe once worked for both the U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture/USDA, and the agribusiness giant, United Fruit Company). In the early
1900s, Popenoe was responsible for bringing Central American avocado seeds to
California, which contributed to the growth of that state’s avocado industry by World
War II. In 1946, in recognition for Popenoe’s role in bringing Guatemalan avocados to
America, the California Avocado Society presented a plaque to the city of Antigua
(which Popenoe credited with growing the best variety of avocados anywhere in the
country). The Popenoe family donated this home to the Universidad Francisco
Marroquín in 2007.
Admission: Q80 per person. Hours: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Monday-Friday), 9:00 am –
11:00 am (Saturdays). Tours must be arranged in advance via email
(casapopenoe@ufm.edu) or phone: +502 2413 3258