Statues of the Liberators
Encyclopedia
A series of Statues of the Liberators of western-hemisphere countries from colonial rule is found along Virginia Avenue, N.W., in Washington, D.C. (which has been referred to as a Washington version of New York City's Avenue of the Americas
).
Over the past fifty-five years, several statues have been erected on Virginia Avenue, N.W., between 18th and 25th Streets, by various Latin American countries honoring their liberators. The statues are maintained by the National Park Service
. The location on Virginia Avenue was chosen because of its proximity to the headquarters of the Organization of American States
(OAS), which is located at Virginia Avenue and 18th Street, and to the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO), which is located at Virginia Avenue and 23rd Street.
Ordered going from East to West:
The statue of Gálvez is idiosyncratic in that it both celebrates a Spanish loyalist and was given by the King of Spain
to the United States in 1976 in celebration of the Bicentennial
. It is Gálvez's role as a helper of the rebellious colonies during the American Revolution
that is here celebrated.
In the 1970s, the statue of San Martín was removed to its present location from Judiciary Square (roughly E Street between 4th and 5th Streets, NW), where it had been erected in 1925 at a ceremony including President Calvin Coolidge
. This move was necessitated by the construction of the Washington Metro
station at Judiciary Square
. The statue is a copy of the statue of San Martín that stands in Buenos Aires
' Plaza San Martín
(sculpted in 1862 by French artist Louis Joseph Daumes).
Another statue that might be, but only ironically, considered a piece of this collection is the statue of the would-be liberator, Don Quixote de La Mancha, that is on the grounds of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (near the Juárez statue). Sculpted by Aurelio Teno, it was also presented by the King of Spain
, as was the Gálvez statue, on his 1976 visit to the United States.
Sixth Avenue (Manhattan)
Sixth Avenue – officially Avenue of the Americas, although this name is seldom used by New Yorkers – is a major thoroughfare in New York City's borough of Manhattan, on which traffic runs northbound, or "uptown"...
).
Over the past fifty-five years, several statues have been erected on Virginia Avenue, N.W., between 18th and 25th Streets, by various Latin American countries honoring their liberators. The statues are maintained by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
. The location on Virginia Avenue was chosen because of its proximity to the headquarters of the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
(OAS), which is located at Virginia Avenue and 18th Street, and to the Pan American Health Organization
Pan American Health Organization
The Pan American Health Organization is an international public health agency with over 100 years of experience working to improve health and living standards of the people of the Americas...
(PAHO), which is located at Virginia Avenue and 23rd Street.
Ordered going from East to West:
| Statue | Liberator | Location of Statue | Country | Year Erected | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| José Artigas statue | José Gervasio Artigas José Gervasio Artigas José Gervasio Artigas is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".-Early life:Artigas was born in Montevideo on June 19, 1764... |
Virginia Ave. and Constitution Ave., NW |  Uruguay |
1950 | Juan Manuel Blanes Juan Manuel Blanes Juan Manuel Blanes was a noted Uruguayan painter of the Realist school.-Life and work:Blanes was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1830. He was raised by his mother, with whom he relocated to the countryside in his early teens... (1830-1901) |
| Equestrian of Simón Bolívar | Simón Bolívar Simón Bolívar Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader... |
Virginia Ave. and 18th Street (at C St.), NW |  Venezuela |
1958 | Felix de Weldon Felix de Weldon Felix Weihs de Weldon was an American sculptor. His most famous piece is the Marine Corps War Memorial of five U.S. Marines and one sailor raising the flag of the United States on Iwo Jima during World War Two.-Biography:... (1907-2003) |
| General Jose de San Martin Memorial General Jose de San Martin Memorial The General Jose de San Martin Memorial is an equestrian statue memorial of Argentine general and independence leader José de San Martín in Washington, D.C., United States.The memorial is located at Virginia Avenue and 20th Street N.W... |
José de San Martín José de San Martín José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the... |
Virginia Ave. and 20th Street, NW |  Argentina |
1970s | Augustine-Alexandre Dumont (1801-1884) |
| Bernardo de Gálvez (statue) Bernardo de Gálvez (statue) Bernado de Galvez 1746–1786 is a bronze equestrian statue, by Juan de Ávalos.It was dedicated on June 3, 1976.It is located with the Statues of the Liberators, at Virginia Avenue and 22nd Street, N.W... |
Bernardo de Gálvez Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston and Count of Gálvez was a Spanish military leader and the general of Spanish forces in New Spain who served as governor of Louisiana and Cuba and as viceroy of New Spain.Gálvez aided the Thirteen Colonies in their quest for independence and led... |
Virginia Ave. and 22nd Street, NW |  Spain |
1976 | Juan de Ávalos Juan de Ávalos Juan de Ávalos y García-Taborda was a Spanish sculptor.... (1911-2006) |
| Benito Juarez (Alciati) Benito Juarez (Alciati) Benito Juárez is the title of a work of art by Enrique Alciati, located at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue in Washington, District of Columbia, United States... |
Benito Juárez Benito Juárez Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872... |
Virginia Ave. and 25th Street (at New Hampshire Ave.), NW |  Mexico |
1969 | Enrique Alciati Enrique Alciati Enrique Alciati was a French/Italian sculptor and teacher, born in Marseille, France, who contributed various sculptures in France and Mexico. His most notable artwork is the Winged Victory that crowns the Independence Column in downtown Mexico City.He began his career in Marseille as a sculptor... |
The statue of Gálvez is idiosyncratic in that it both celebrates a Spanish loyalist and was given by the King of Spain
Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
to the United States in 1976 in celebration of the Bicentennial
United States Bicentennial
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
. It is Gálvez's role as a helper of the rebellious colonies during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
that is here celebrated.
In the 1970s, the statue of San Martín was removed to its present location from Judiciary Square (roughly E Street between 4th and 5th Streets, NW), where it had been erected in 1925 at a ceremony including President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
. This move was necessitated by the construction of the Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
station at Judiciary Square
Judiciary Square
Judiciary Square is a neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., the vast majority of which is occupied by various federal and municipal courthouses and office buildings...
. The statue is a copy of the statue of San Martín that stands in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
' Plaza San Martín
Plaza San Martín (Buenos Aires)
Plaza San Martín is a park located in the Retiro neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Situated at the northern end of pedestrianized Florida Street, the park is bounded by Libertador Ave. , Maipú St. , Santa Fe Avenue , and Leandro Alem Av....
(sculpted in 1862 by French artist Louis Joseph Daumes).
Another statue that might be, but only ironically, considered a piece of this collection is the statue of the would-be liberator, Don Quixote de La Mancha, that is on the grounds of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (near the Juárez statue). Sculpted by Aurelio Teno, it was also presented by the King of Spain
Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
, as was the Gálvez statue, on his 1976 visit to the United States.
See also
- LibertadoresLibertadoresLibertadores refers to the principal leaders of the Latin American wars of independence from Spain. They are named that way in contrast with the Conquistadors, who were so far the only Spanish peoples recorded in the South American history...
- South American wars of independenceSouth American Wars of IndependenceThe Latin American Wars of Independence were the various revolutions that took place during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and resulted in the creation of a number of independent countries in Latin America. These revolutions followed the American and French Revolutions, which had profound...
- Don Diego de GardoquiDon Diego de GardoquiDon Diego María de Gardoqui y Arriquibar Gardoqui-Gardoki Translation: Basque - Fernery was a Spanish-born politician and diplomat.-Biography:Diego de Gardoqui, the fourth of eight children, was the financial intermediary between the...
- National MallNational MallThe National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
External links
- National Park Service's Washington, D.C. Home Page
- National Park Service's Hispanic Heritage Home Page
- Tour of statues offered seasonally by the National Park Service
- "Who Is That Man, Anyway?" Web Page
- "D.C. Memorials.com" Web Page with many photographs
- Washington Times article of May 24, 2007.
- Art Museum of the Americas (part of OAS)
- Speech given by President Coolidge at Presentation of San Martín statue in 1925
- Time Magazine article from November 1925 about San Martín statue dedication
- Article (in Spanish) about the move of the San Martín statue in 1970s.
- Smithsonian Institution inventory entry for the Don Quixote statue at the Kennedy Center.