Monumento de Santiago facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 19°27′02″N 70°41′42″W / 19.4506°N 70.6950°W |
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| Location | Santiago de los Caballeros,  Dominican Republic |
| Designer | Henry Gazón Bona |
| Type | Victory Column |
| Material | Marble |
| Length | 74 m (242.8 ft) |
| Beginning date | 1944 |
| Completion date | 1944 |
| Dedicated to | Dominican Restoration of Independence |
The Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration is a tall and important monument in Santiago de los Caballeros, a city in the Dominican Republic. It's the tallest building in Santiago and a popular spot for tourists to visit. This monument stands on a hill right in the center of the city. From there, you can see amazing views of Santiago and the mountains around it. There is also a nice park surrounding the monument.
History of the Monument
Building the Monument
The monument was first built in 1944. At that time, the Dominican Republic was led by a dictator named Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. A dictator is a leader who has complete power and control over a country. Trujillo ordered the monument to be built to honor himself.
The monument was also built to celebrate a very important event. It marked 100 years since the Dominican War of Independence. This war was fought in 1844 to gain freedom and control over their own country from Haiti. Because it was built for Trujillo, it was first called El Monumento a la Paz de Trujillo, which means "Trujillo's Monument to Peace".
Changing the Name
In 1961, Trujillo was assassinated. After he was no longer in power, the government decided to change the monument's name. It was renamed "Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración". This means "Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration".
The monument is now dedicated to the brave heroes of the Dominican Restoration War. This war took place from 1863 to 1865. It was fought against forces from Spain and Dominicans who supported Spain. Some of the important heroes honored by the monument include Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, and Gregorio Luperón.
Photo Gallery
See also
In Spanish: Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración para niños
