Benito Juarez, Bronze statue in Virginia Avenue, Washington D.C., United States
The Benito Juarez statue is a 19-foot-tall bronze sculpture depicting the Mexican president with his right arm raised and a book held in his left hand. The figure stands at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue in central Washington on a granite base inscribed with text in two languages.
The statue was erected in 1969 as a reciprocal gift from Mexico following the United States presentation of an Abraham Lincoln statue to Mexico in 1966. The monument marks an important moment in diplomatic relations between the two countries and honors Juarez as a pivotal figure in Mexican history.
The inscription at the base presents Juarez as a symbol of rule of law and draws visitors from both nations to photograph and reflect on its message. The location serves as a gathering point for commemorative events and embodies the shared historical connection between Mexico and the United States.
The monument is open to the public year-round and maintained by the National Park Service. The location on a busy street corner makes it easily accessible, though it is surrounded by traffic.
The granite base of the monument conceals a small urn containing soil from San Pablo Guelatao, the Mexican village where Juarez was born. This hidden element connects the memorial physically to the birthplace of the important Mexican leader.
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