Obelisco de Buenos Aires facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Obelisco de Buenos Aires |
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| Location | Av. 9 de Julio and Av. Corrientes, Buenos Aires |
| Height | 71.5 meters (235 ft) |
| Built | May 23, 1936 |
| Built for | Monument |
| Restored | 2005 |
| Architect | Alberto Prebisch |
The Obelisco de Buenos Aires is a famous national historic monument in Buenos Aires. It stands as a world-famous icon of the bustling capital city of Argentina. This giant stone pillar stands tall in the middle of Plaza de la República. That public square is located where two major streets cross each other. Those avenues are Corrientes and the very wide 9 de Julio Avenue. Builders made it out of strong reinforced concrete back in the year 1936. They constructed the giant tower to honor the quadricentennial of the first foundation of the city. That means the city reached its 400th birthday since its founding in 1536. Today, travelers from all over the planet visit to see this famous obelisk.
Contents
The History and Construction of the Obelisco
The story of this towering monument began early in the twentieth century. Construction workers started digging its foundation on March 20, 1936. Remarkably, the whole project took just 31 days to build completely. The builders officially finished all of their construction tasks on May 23, 1936. A skilled man named Alberto Prebisch worked as the chief architect of the structure. He designed several notable modern buildings, including the famous Teatro Gran Rex. That theater sits near the intersection of Corrientes and Suipacha. The mayor of the city, Mariano de Vedia y Mitre, requested the monument. Argentina's president Agustín Pedro Justo had appointed this mayor to lead city improvements. The whole project cost about 200,000 pesos moneda nacional to complete.
The construction required many tough materials to stand upright in strong winds. Workers poured 680 cubic meters of strong reinforced concrete into sturdy frames. They initially covered the outer walls with 1,360 square meters of white stone facing. This stone came straight from Olaen quarries in the province of Córdoba. A major construction firm called G.E.O.P.E. - Siemens Bauunion - Grün & Bilfinger managed the work. A busy team of 157 hardworking laborers helped mix and pour the cement. The company chose a special rapid-hardening Incor cement to speed up construction times. They built the monument upward in two-meter sections so workers poured the concrete easily.
Architecture and Hidden Features Inside
The monument reaches an impressive height of 67.5 meters into the sky. Its wide square base measures about 3.5 by 3.5 meters across. Near the very top, the pointed pyramid apex starts at 63 meters high. The very tip is blunt, measuring about 40 centimeters across its flat edge. A safety lightning rod sits on top to protect the tower during thunderstorms. You cannot easily see this metal rod from the ground due to the height. Thick protective cables run down through the dark interior of the obelisk.
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The stone tower has only one small metal door on its west side. If you step inside, you will not find any fancy elevator rides. People must climb a long, straight staircase that features 206 steep steps. The stairway includes seven resting breaks every six to eight meters along the climb. Once climbers reach the summit, they can look through four small observation windows. Each window looks out toward one of the four cardinal directions across the city.
Challenges and Big Changes Over the Decades
The famous monument did not always enjoy universal popularity among city residents. On February 20, 1938, Roberto María Ortiz succeeded Justo as the new national president. President Ortiz chose a politician named Arturo Goyeneche to serve as the city mayor. In June 1939, local city lawmakers actually voted to demolish the entire monument. They argued that tearing it down would save money and improve public safety. However, the executive government quickly used its power to block the demolition plan. Officials insisted that the monument belonged to the whole nation as public heritage.
The exterior walls of the monument also faced physical troubles during its early years. In June 1938, several heavy stone slabs suddenly detached and crashed down. City leaders decided to remove all of the original stone cladding in 1943. Repair crews replaced the old slabs with smooth, polished cement layers instead. They etched fake crack lines into the cement to imitate original stone blocks. During these repairs, an inscription honoring architect Alberto Prebisch was removed from view.
Long ago, a historic church stood on the very ground beneath the obelisk. That old church honored a saint named St. Nicholas of Bari. Workers knocked down the building to make room for wide avenues. In 1812, patriots hoisted the official Argentine flag there for the first time. The north side of the monument features an inscription celebrating that special moment.
Over the years, the monument was sometimes covered in politically themed graffiti. People who disagreed with local leaders often painted messages near its wide base. In the 1980s, visitors broke in and poured paint out of the top windows. Therefore, the city government installed a protective security fence around the base in 1987. That sturdy metal fence successfully protected the walls from any future vandalism.
Inscriptions on the Four Sides
The four flat faces of the monument show carved words about Argentine history.
| North side | West side | South side | East side |
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| Translation: On this site in the St. Nicholas tower the National Flag was hoisted for the first time in the city the XXIII of August of MDCCCXII. |
Translation: Federal Capital Law enacted by the National Congress the XX of September of MDCCCLXXX initiative of the President Nicolás Avellaneda Decree of the President Julio A. Roca VI of December of MDCCCLXXX. |
Translation: Second Foundation by Juan de Garay XI of June of MDLXXX. — Poem by Baldomero Fernández Moreno |
Translation: Buenos Aires to the Republic On the IV centenary of the foundation of the city by Don Pedro de Mendoza. II of February of MDXXXVI. |
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The north wall marks when patriots flew the national flag in 1812. The west wall honors the Federal Capital law of 1880. That law made Buenos Aires the permanent home of the national government. The inscription mentions the work of president Nicolás Avellaneda and president Julio A. Roca. The south face commemorates the second founding of the town by Juan de Garay. Finally, the east side honors Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza for founding the town.
A famous writer named Baldomero Fernández Moreno wrote a poem about the tower. He shared the sonnet during a special banquet at the luxurious Alvear Palace Hotel. His poem praises the shining monument for rising like a silver sword.
Famous Celebrations and Public Gatherings
People often gather around the monument during holidays, athletic victories, and cultural events. In 1973, decorators hung bright holiday lights to disguise it as a Christmas tree. During 1975, the government of Isabel Perón added a large rotating sign. The sign told drivers that quietness helped maintain public peace and health. In late 2005, professional painters applied a new layer of acrylic paint. They chose a warm "Paris stone" color instead of bright plain white.
The city also decorates the giant pillar to remember important historical events. To mark thirty years since the La Noche de los Lápices, artists covered it like a giant pencil. The monument hosted the opening ceremony of the exciting 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. Millions of joyous football fans celebrated the title won at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Today, travelers ride Line B, Line C, and Line D on the Buenos Aires Metro to visit it.
Images for kids
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Celebrating 150 years of bilateral relations between Argentina and Germany on September 21, 2007
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Celebrating the Argentina Bicentennial on May 23, 2010
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On Christmas night, 2010
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"Without peak", after the intervention of artist Leandro Erlich, September 25, 2015
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Millions celebrating world championship of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
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The Obelisk at sunset
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See also
In Spanish: Obelisco de Buenos Aires para niños
