Che Guevara Mausoleum facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Che Guevara Mausoleum
Conjunto Escultórico Memorial Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara
Che Guevara Monument and Mausoleum
Location	Santa Clara, Cuba
Type	National monument, memorial and museum
Owner	Cuban Government

The Che Guevara Mausoleum (officially Conjunto Escultórico Memorial Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara) is a special memorial in Santa Clara, Cuba. It is located in "Plaza Che Guevara" (Che Guevara Square). This important site holds the remains of the famous revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara. It also holds the remains of 29 of his fellow fighters. They were killed in 1967 during Guevara's attempt to start an armed uprising in Bolivia. The entire area is known as the Ernesto Guevara Sculptural Complex. It features a large bronze statue of Guevara, which stands 22 feet tall.

Discovering Che Guevara's Story
- A Look at History
- Bringing Remains Home
Exploring the Monument
- Understanding the Symbolism
Visitors to the Memorial
More People Buried Here
See also

Discovering Che Guevara's Story

A Look at History

Che Guevara was buried with full military honors on October 17, 1997. His remains were found in Bolivia, dug up, and brought back to Cuba. At the memorial site, there is a museum that tells the story of Guevara's life. There is also an eternal flame that was lit by Fidel Castro to remember him.

Santa Clara was chosen for this memorial for a special reason. Guevara's troops took control of the city on December 31, 1958. This happened during the Battle of Santa Clara. This battle was the final fight of the Cuban Revolution. After it, the Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista had to leave the country.

Near the mausoleum, in another part of the city, you can still see a military supply train. This train belonged to Fulgencio Batista. Guevara's forces derailed it during the battle. It remains in its original spot.

Bringing Remains Home

In October 1997, Che Guevara's remains were brought to Santa Clara. The remains of six other revolutionaries who died with him in Bolivia also arrived. They traveled from Havana in small wooden caskets. These were carried on trailers pulled by green jeeps.

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered as the remains were unloaded. A choir of schoolchildren sang "Hasta Siempre" (Until Forever). This song is a tribute to Guevara. Then, Fidel Castro spoke to the crowd. He said that even though Che was killed, his spirit as a fighter would live on. Castro said Che's mark is now in history. He added that Che's vision has become a symbol for poor people everywhere.

After Castro's speech, a special 21-gun salute took place. This happened in both Santa Clara and Havana at the same time. Air raid sirens also sounded across the island.

Besides Che Guevara, the remains of six other fighters were placed in the mausoleum. They had died during the 1966–1967 Bolivian uprising. Their burial took place on October 17, 1997:

Carlos Coello (Tuma) – From Cuba, died in battle at Rio Piraí on June 26, 1967.
Alberto Fernandez Montes de Oca (Pacho) – From Cuba, died in battle at Quebrada del Yuro on October 8, 1967.
Orlando Pantoja Tamayo (Olo) – From Cuba, died in battle at Quebrada del Yuro on October 8, 1967.
René Martínez Tamayo (Arturo) – From Cuba, died in battle at Quebrada del Yuro on October 8, 1967.
Juan Pablo Navarro-Lévano Chang (El Chino) – From Peru, captured and executed in La Higuera on October 9, 1967.
Simeon Cuba Sarabia (Willy) – From Bolivia, captured and executed in La Higuera on October 9, 1967.

Exploring the Monument

The Che Guevara memorial is a fascinating place. It helps visitors understand history and strong feelings. You can see Che's personal items and photos of his life. This offers a rare look into the deep connection between a leader and his people.

Work on the complex started in 1982. It officially opened on December 28, 1988. Raúl Castro was there for the opening. Architects Jorge Cao Campos, Blanca Hernández, and José Ramón Linares designed the project. Sculptors José de Lázaro Bencomo and José Delarra also helped. Delarra was the main creator. Many people from Santa Clara volunteered over 400,000 hours to build the complex. They worked with skilled artists from the Eliseo Díaz Machado Foundry.

The complex shows many parts of Guevara's life. For example, his time in Guatemala and at the United Nations is shown in sculptures. His farewell letter to Fidel Castro is written out completely. A nearby wall shows him talking with Fidel in the Sierra Maestra mountains. He is also shown next to Camilo Cienfuegos and riding a horse in the mountains. Another part shows Guevara doing volunteer work as Minister of Industry. Finally, the monument shows literacy teachers, schoolchildren, and young pioneers. They are shown saying the daily salute that all Cuban children recite: "We will be like Che."

The complex sits on a hill overlooking Santa Clara. It has a large tiled plaza. At the end of the plaza are two big billboards. They have quotes from Fidel Castro. One says, "Che - it was a star that put you here and made you of this people." The other says, "We want everyone to be like Che." Carved in stone below the statue is a famous quote by Guevara. He said that he learned in Guatemala that to be a revolutionary, there first had to be a revolution.

Understanding the Symbolism

The memorial's creator, José Delarra, said he used simple shapes. He used rectangles and squares to show Che's steady and strong personality. Many parts of the memorial have a special meaning.

For example, the monument faces 190 degrees. This points Che's figure directly towards South America. This shows his focus on a united Latin America. Also, the 22-foot bronze statue of Che shows him carrying his gun, not aiming it. This symbolizes that he is "continuing onward." Guevara wore a sling during the battle because of a broken arm. This sling is etched into the statue. But he is not wearing it in the sculpture. This symbolizes his rebellious personality, even against himself. At the bottom of the memorial is Guevara's famous motto: "Hasta la Victoria Siempre" (Until the Eternal Victory).

Visitors to the Memorial

From October 1997 to October 2009, over 3 million people visited the memorial. These visitors came from more than 100 different countries.

In 2008 alone, over 247,700 Cubans and people from other countries visited the sculptural complex.

More People Buried Here

Between 1997 and 2000, experts found more remains in southeast Bolivia. These belonged to 23 other fighters who died during the Bolivian uprising. All of these remains were brought to Cuba. They were also buried in the Che Guevara Mausoleum. The first of these burials happened on December 29, 1998. This was 40 years after Guevara's victory in the Battle of Santa Clara. Ten sets of remains were buried then:

Haydée Tamara Bunke Bider (Tania)- From Argentina/East Germany, died in battle at Vado del Yeso on August 31, 1967.
Manuel Hernández Osorio (Miguel)- From Cuba, died in battle at Quebrada de Batan on September 26, 1967.
Mario Gutierrez Ardaya (Julio)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Quebrada de Batan on September 26, 1967.
Roberto Peredo Leigue (Coco)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Quebrada de Batan on September 26, 1967.
Aniceto Reinaga Cordillo (Aniceto)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Quebrada del Yuro on October 8, 1967.
Francisco Huanca Flores (Pablito)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Los Cajones on October 12, 1967.
Garvan Edilverto Lucio Hidalgo (Eustace)- From Peru, died in battle at Los Cajones on October 12, 1967.
Jaime Arana Campero (Chapaco)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Los Cajones on October 12, 1967.
Octavio de la Concepcion Pedraja (Moro)- From Cuba, died in battle at Los Cajones on October 12, 1967.
Julio César Méndez Korné (Nato)- From Bolivia, shot by fellow fighters after being badly wounded in Mataral on November 15, 1967.

A second group of burials took place on October 8, 1999. The remains of 7 more fighters found in Bolivia were placed in the mausoleum:

Apolinar Aguirre Quispe (Polo)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Vado del Yeso on August 31, 1967.
Freddy Maymura (also Maemura) Hurtado (ja) (Ernesto)- From Bolivia, captured and executed at Vado del Yeso on August 31, 1967.
Gustavo Manchin Hoed de Beche (Alejandro)- From Cuba, died in battle at Vado del Yeso on August 31, 1967.
Israel Reyes Sayas (Braulio)- From Cuba, died in battle at Vado del Yeso on August 31, 1967.
Juan Vitalio Acuña Nuñez (Joaquin)- From Cuba, died in battle at Vado del Yeso on August 31, 1967.
Moises Guevara Rodriguez (Moses)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Vado del Yeso on August 31, 1967.
Walter Arencibia Ayala (Abel)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Vado del Yeso on August 31, 1967.

A final group of 6 burials happened exactly one year later, on October 8, 2000. This brought the total number of fighters buried at the site to 30:

Eliseo Reyes Rodriguez (Rolando)- From Cuba, died in battle at El Meson on April 25, 1967.
Antonio Sanchez Diaz (Marcos)- From Cuba, died in battle at Peña Colorada on June 2, 1967.
Serapio Aquino Tudela (Serafin)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Iquira on July 9, 1967.
Condori Casildo Varga (Victor)- From Bolivia, died in battle at Rio Rosita on July 30, 1967.
Jose Maria Martinez Tamayo (Papi)- From Cuba, died in battle at Rio Rosita on July 30, 1967.
Restituto José Cabrera Flores (El Negro)- From Peru, captured and executed in Rio Palmarito on September 4, 1967.