The organ of Santa María Alotepec,, located in the mountainous Mixe area, is one of the latest Oaxaca organs. It was built of cedar in traditional neoclassical style and later stained and varnished which darkened the color. The case and its carvings are very well-preserved, but unfortunately many pieces are missing. The façade includes square relief panels, a typical decorative feature of Puebla-built organs. During our first visit in 2000, we met the former organist who told us the story, related to him by his grandfather, of how the organ was transported from a shop in the Oaxaca Valley to his community around 1870-1880.