Benito Juárez, Bronze memorial statue in Virginia Avenue, Washington DC, US.
The Benito Juárez memorial is a bronze statue located on Virginia Avenue in central Washington, DC. The figure depicts the Mexican president in an upright pose and is accompanied by inscriptions in English and Spanish that convey messages about peace and democratic values.
The memorial was presented by Mexico to the United States in 1969 as a significant gesture of diplomatic relations. This gift followed America's earlier presentation of a Lincoln statue to Mexico and demonstrated mutual respect between the two nations.
The memorial represents friendship between Mexico and the United States, and visitors often stop to read the bilingual inscriptions on its base. It serves as a gathering place where both nations acknowledge their shared values and respect for democratic leadership.
The memorial sits on a public plaza near the National Mall and is easily reachable on foot from nearby areas. Visitors should know the site remains freely accessible at all times and is best viewed in daylight to appreciate the details of the inscriptions.
During its dedication ceremony, soil from Guelatao in Oaxaca, the birthplace of Juárez, was placed in the base of the memorial. This detail connects the statue to Mexican heritage and creates a symbolic link to Mexico itself.
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