In January 1914, during the Mexican Revolution, destitute residents waited for food distribution at army headquarters in Chihuahua City. A contemporary photograph shows a physical line extending along the building and identifies the city, month and purpose of the wait.
War disrupted markets, transport and employment, making urban food supplies uncertain. Military authority also became involved in price controls and food provision, turning headquarters into a distribution point for civilians. The queue marks the place where the Revolution's large political claims met the immediate question of what people could eat that day.