Guatemala City in Guatemala Department, — Central America

Monument of the Star

Monumento de La Estrella

Colonel Joaquin Cabrera image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.M. Bruton, December 31, 2013

1. Colonel Joaquin Cabrera

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This marker consists of nine bronze plaques mounted to a single monument. Plaques are numbered, and those with substantive text are presented in Spanish, and then translated into English.

1. Colonel Joaquin Cabrera
Herido gravemente en la batalla de San Jorge, Nicaragua, el 4 de Febrero de 1857. El coraje de hombres como él, que sacrificaron su vida, dieron el triunfo a las tropas. centroamericanos en la GUERRA NACIONAL contra los filibusters. 30 de Junio de 1959.

(English translation:) Gravely wounded in the Battle of San Jorge, Nicaragua on February 4, 1857. The courage of men like him that sacrificed their life gave the triumph to the Central American troops in the National War against the Filibusters. June 30, 1959.

2. General Mariano Paredes
Comandante de las tropas guatemaltecas en la GUERRA NACIONAL contra los filibusteros en Nicaragua. Falleció el 2 de Diciembre de 1856, durante el sitio de la Ciudad de Granada. 30 de Junio de 1959.

(English translation:) Commander of the Guatemalan troops in the National

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War against the Filibusters in Nicaragua. Died on December 2, 1856 during the siege of the city of Granada. June 30, 1959.

3. Teniente Colonel Valderraman, Capitan Allende
Heróicas combatientes en la GUERRA NACIONAL DE CENTROAMERICA. Cayeron prisioneros de los filibusteros en la batalla de Granada, Nicaragua el 13 de Octubre de 1856. Dos dias mas tarde fueron fusilados. Murieron con el orgullo de haber peleado los invasores de la gran patria Centroamericana. 30 de Junio de 1959.

(English translation:) Heroic combatants in the National War of Central America. The were taken prisoner by the Filibusters during the Battle of Granada, Nicaragua on October 13, 1856. Two days later they were executed. They died with the pride of having fought against the invaders of the great nation that is Central America. June 30, 1959.

4. General Joaquin Solares
Llegó a Nicaragua el 6 de Noviembre de 1856, comandando las reservas guatemaltecas enviadas para la GUERRA NACIONAL DE CENTROAMERICA. Falleció en Masaya el 28 del mismo mes, días antes de que sus tropas actuaran en el exterminio de los filibusteros. 30 de junio de 1959.

(English translation:) Arrived to Nicaragua on November 6, 1856, commanding the Guatemalan reserves sent to the National War of Central America. He died in

General Mariano Paredes image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.M. Bruton, December 31, 2013

2. General Mariano Paredes

Masaya on the 28th of the same month, days before his troops acted to exterminate the Filibusters. June 30, 1959.

Erected 1908 by Commissioned by President Estrada Cabrera.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Notable Events. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1813.

Location. 14° 36.919′ N, 90° 30.835′ W. Marker is in Guatemala City, Guatemala (Guatemala Department). Marker is at the intersection of Avenida La Reforma Zona 10 and 10 Avenida y Ruta 6 Zona 4, in the median on Avenida La Reforma Zona 10. Botanical Garden on the right hand side; Liceo Guatemala on the right hand side; Chamber of Commerce, to the left of 10 Avenida. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Guatemala City, Guatemala 01010, Guatemala. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Founding of the Botanical Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Assassination of Dr. Alberto Fuentes Mohr (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Chapel of Nuestra Señora de las Angustias (about 120 meters away); Military Academy of Guatemala (about 210 meters away); Miguel Garcia Granados (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Tower of the Reformer (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); José María Reina Barrios

Teniente Colonel Valderraman y Capitan Allende image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.M. Bruton, December 31, 2013

3. Teniente Colonel Valderraman y Capitan Allende

(approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Israel and Guatemala Monument (approx. 0.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Guatemala City.

Regarding Monument of the Star.

Commissioned by President Estrada Cabrera, with Decree #678 on January 1, 1908, this monument was created to honor the perpetual memory of those who gave their lives during the Central American National War. Many present day Central American countries had committed to preserving the sovereign status of the region; this monument was dedicated to the heroes of that war. Giocondo Granai was originally contracted to construct the monument. The sculptor was Francisco Durini, and Luis Fontaine was the final builder. The monument's inauguration occurred during the festivities celebrating the completion of the North Terminal of the National Railroad of Guatemala in 1908.

The Central American National War led to a unified effort (of present day Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua ) confronting the U.S. led invasion of the 1850s. William Walker, native of Tennessee, was the head of a private military expedition with the intention of establishing a territory to be annexed by the United States. This enterprise then known

General Joaquin Solares image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.M. Bruton, December 31, 2013

4. General Joaquin Solares

as 'filibustering' was the reason for the invasion, later Walker was captured and executed by the government of Honduras in 1860.

Six purple-basalt steps arise from an octagonal platform. The steps are the foundation for a green granite base, from where a pink-porphyry containing triangular center hosts a star on top. There are nine plaques, four statues, and a star on top; all are made of bronze. The plaque inscriptions were placed after the centenary of the National War, June 30, 1959, Army Day, during the government of José Miguel Ramón Ydígoras.

Also see . . . Monumento del Ejército o de La Estrella. A Spanish-language history of the monument, by Dr. Frieda Liliana Morales Barco. (Submitted on November 2, 2014.)

Additional keywords. Filibuster, William Walker, Juan Santamaria

Estados Unidos de Centroamerica image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, January 20, 2014

5. Estados Unidos de Centroamerica

United States of Central America.

Although one of the flags on the plaque resembles "Old Glory", that one was the flag of the Republic of El Salvador at the moment of the monument was created.

Paz Instruccion Progreso image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, January 14, 2014

6. Paz Instruccion Progreso

Peace Instruction Progress (The sun rays represent truth.)

Multiple Views of Guatemala image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, January 20, 2014

7. Multiple Views of Guatemala

Multiple areas of Guatemala: View of city, Railroad Cows' Bridge, Palace of the Post Office, Bust of Miguel Hidalgo, Monument to the Railroad, Former Minerva Temple, Port Cranes, Railroad Tunnel to Barrios at Agua Caliente, Boys' Practical School.

A scene from the port of San José image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, January 20, 2014

8. A scene from the port of San José

Exposition District and The Palace of Reform image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, January 20, 2014

9. Exposition District and The Palace of Reform

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, January 20, 2014

10. Muses

Photographed By J.M. Bruton, December 31, 2013

11. La Estrella

Monumento de La Estrella image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, January 13, 2014

12. Monumento de La Estrella

Photographed By J.M. Bruton, December 31, 2013

13. Monumento de La Estrella

A photo from the Monument of the Star's inauguration image. Click for full size.

1908

14. A photo from the Monument of the Star's inauguration

This photo was at the Museo Miraflores in Guatemala City.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2014, by Jo Solorzano of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 929 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on February 5, 2014, by Jo Solorzano of San Francisco, California. 14. submitted on September 2, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.