Seven on the “Avenue of the Americas”

Photos and text by Ismael Núñez • Contact: ismael@aleida.net

“The Avenue of the Americas”... In 1945 Sixth Avenue was given this name at the suggestion of Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia (1882-1947) to honor Pan-American ideas and principles. Currently there are seven statues of Latino Liberators: The first stop is Bryant Park near Sixth Avenue. Between 42nd and 40th Streets one will see the statues of Benito Juárez (Mexico) and José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (Brazil).

▲   (Click on any photo to enter)

Designed by Mexican artist Moisés Cabrera Orozco, the Juárez statue was unveiled on October 9, 2004. Juárez (1806-1872) was the first Mexican president of Indian Descent and remains a national hero. Andrada was born at Villa de Santos, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue was put together by Brazilian sculptor Jose Otavio Correia Lima (1876-1974). The monument stands between 40th and 41st Street along the Avenue of the Americas.

Trio of bronze equestrian sculptures welcome visitors to Central Park at the northern end of the Avenue of the Americas. A new plaza was designed especially for the monuments. The monument of Simón Bolívar (1783-1830) is on the eastern side of the plaza. The sculpture was designed by Sally James Farnham. Bolívar is credited for the liberation of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panamá from Spanish Rule. The statue of José de San Martín stands on the West side of the plaza. Martín at the same time helped Argentina, Chile, and Perú gain freedom from Spain. The statue was put together by French sculptor Louis-Joseph Daumas. Between the two stands the monument to José Martí, who campaigned for the independence of Cuba from Spain, considered the father of Cuban Independence.

In Soho Square the monument of General José Gervasio Artigas (June 19, 1764 - September 23, 1850) who led the fight for Uruguayan Independence! Like Juárez, he is a national hero in his country.

At the south end of the Avenue of the Americas in Duarte Square at Canal Street stands the bronze statue of Juan Pablo Duarte y Diéz (1813-1876), the liberator and first president of the Dominican Republic.

Seven statues. What’s missing is the one for Puerto Rico!