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Santa Cruz del Quiché in Santa Cruz de Quiché, El Quiché, Guatemala — Central America
 

Plaza Tecún Umán

 
 
Plaza Tecún Umán Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 19, 2015
1. Plaza Tecún Umán Marker
Inscription.  
Plaza Tecun Uman
La municipalidad de
Santa Cruz de El Quiche
al Heroe Nacional
Tecun Uman
1969

Homenaje: Del Departamento de El Quiche al Heroe Nacional Tecun Uman, hijo de esta tierra historica, martir de la soberania nacional
Ejemplo de acendrado patriotism
Quiche, 20 de febrero de 1967.

English translation:
Plaza Tecún Umán
The municipality of Santa Cruz de El Quiché to the National Hero Tecún Umán
1969

Tribute from the Department of El Quiché to the National Hero Tecún Umán, son of this historic land, an example of pure patriotism.
1967.

 
Erected 1967.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and CommunitiesPatriots & Patriotism. A significant historical year for this entry is 1969.
 
Location. 15° 1.744′ N, 91° 8.939′ W. Marker is in Santa Cruz del Quiché, El Quiché, in Santa Cruz de Quiché. It is on RN-15. The monument and markers are located in the central park of Santa
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Cruz del Quiché. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Santa Cruz del Quiché, El Quiché 14001, Guatemala. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in North America, specifically in Central America, in Mesoamerica, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, and in the Western Hemisphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also a Spanish colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 29 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: El Quiché War Victims (a few steps from this marker); Founding of the Department of El Quiche, Guatemala (within shouting distance of this marker); Santa María Chiquimula Community Consultation (approx. 19.5 kilometers away in Totonicapán); Manuel Tzoc, Founder of Nahualá (approx. 27.6 kilometers away in Sololá).
 
Regarding Plaza Tecún Umán. Tecún Umán was the most famous of the Quiché warrior-kings to confront the Spanish during their conquest of Guatemala. He was killed by Pedro de Alvarado on February 15, 1524 on the plains of Olintepeque near Quetzaltenango. In 1960, as Guatemala again found herself in a time of turmoil and civil strife, the military leaders designated Tecún Umán as a National Hero of Guatemala and promoted him as an example of patriotism.
 
Wide view of Plaza Tecún Umán Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 19, 2015
2. Wide view of Plaza Tecún Umán Marker
Additional marker at Plaza Tecún Umán image. Click for full size.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 19, 2015
3. Additional marker at Plaza Tecún Umán
This marker on the reverse of the statue's base describes the government officials that promoted its installation in 1967. Rodolfo Galleotti Torres was the famed sculptor of this version and at least six other similiar statues throughout Guatemala.
Tecún Umán image. Click for full size.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 21, 2015
4. Tecún Umán
This plaster bust by Galeotti Torres shows the detail on his Tecún Umán statues and was at an exposition at the Cerro Santo Domingo in Antigua Guatemala in December, 2014.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 839 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 24, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
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Jun. 12, 2026