Equestrian statue of José Martí

The equestrian sculpture depicts José Martí mounted on horseback with one arm extended outward, resting on a dark granite base near Columbus Circle. The work sits at a park entrance between the Avenue of the Americas and the intersection of West 59th and West 60th Streets.

Anna Hyatt Huntington completed the bronze sculpture in 1959, yet Cold War tensions between Cuba and the United States prevented its installation for several years. The work finally arrived in the park in 1965 after diplomatic conditions shifted.

The statue occupies a dedicated space alongside monuments to Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín, forming a gathering point that reflects the shared legacy of Latin American independence. Walking around these sculptures, you encounter a quiet corner that honors regional leaders central to the continent's break from colonial rule.

You can reach the sculpture by walking into Central Park from the Avenue of the Americas between West 59th and West 60th Streets. The site is open to the public throughout the day, and you can view the statue from multiple angles around its granite base.

The sculptor created this work at the age of 81 and donated it to the Cuban government, who then presented it as a gift to New York City years later. This path to installation reflects the complex diplomatic history surrounding the piece.

Location: New York County

Inception: 1965

Website: https://nycgovparks.org/parks/central-park/monuments/982

GPS coordinates: 40.76605,-73.97607

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:53