San José, Costa Rica — Central America

The National Monument of Costa Rica

Monumento Nacional de Costa Rica

National Monument of Costa Rica Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 11, 2015

1. National Monument of Costa Rica Marker

Los Jefes de la Campaña Nacional. The different Central American leaders are shown around Costa Rican President Juan Rafael Mora Porras.

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Los Jefes
de la Campaña Nacional
Centro∙americana
1856∙1857

Batalla de Santa-Rosa
20 marzo 1856.

Batalla de Rivas
11 abril 1856.

Toma de los vapores
en San Juan del Norte
25 diciembre 1856

English translation:
The Leaders of the Central American National Campaign
1856∙1857

Battle of Santa Rosa
March 20, 1856.

Battle of Rivas
April 11, 1856.

Seizing of the Filibusters' Steamships
in San Juan del Norte
December 25, 1856

Erected 1895.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • Wars, Non-US.

Location. 9° 56.082′ N, 84° 4.244′ W. Marker is in San José. Memorial can be reached from Avenida 3, Paseo de la Damas close to Calle 15. The monument is located in the National Park (Parque Nacional). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San José 10101, Costa Rica. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Andrés Bello (within shouting distance of this marker); Miguel Hidalgo

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Christopher Columbus in Costa Rica (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Juan Vazquez de Coronado (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Juan Mora Fernández (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); The University of Santo Tomás (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); The 150th Anniversary of the First Catholic Diocese in Costa Rica (approx. one kilometer away); The Declaration of Central American Independence (approx. one kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San José.

Regarding The National Monument of Costa Rica. The National Monument of Costa Rica is a sculpture by Frenchman Louis-Robert Carrier-Belleuse, and it is located in the National Park (Parque Nacional) of San José. It is generally considered to be the most important monument in Costa Rica, since it represents the triumph of the Central American Federation against foreign invaders known as filibusters. The filibusters, under the command of American William Walker, attempted to conquer Nicaragua and the rest of Central America between 1855 to 1857. The defense of the independence and sovereignty of

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 11, 2015

2. National Monument of Costa Rica Marker

Batalla de Santa Rosa

Costa Rica, headed by President Juan Rafael Mora Porras, is known in Costa Rica and the rest of Central America as the National Campaign of 1856-1857. At the time the five countries of Central America were still in a post-independence federation. Although the federation was not to last for much longer, this war against the filibusters was considered decisive for the formation of national identities. This is particularly true in Costa Rica as they, after Nicaragua, were the nation most affected by the war.

The National Monument, a sculpture cast in bronze on a pedestal, includes five female figures carrying weapons and driving away a male figure. A second male figure lies on the ground near the scene. The women are considered to be representative of the five Central American nations. The figure representing Costa Rica is seen comforting the wounded Nicaragua. Honduras is nearby with a shield and arrowheads. Guatemala wields an axe and may be attempting to behead the prone male figure. El Salvador is chasing and pointing at the fleeing male figure, supposedly representing William Walker and the other defeated filibusters. The other male figure represents the many dead and wounded in the conflict. It was sculpted in Paris in 1891, and unveiled on September 15, 1895 by President Rafael Yglesias Castro.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 11, 2015

3. National Monument of Costa Rica Marker

Batalla de Rivas

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 11, 2015

4. National Monument of Costa Rica Marker

Toma de los Vapores. This was a decisive battle in the war as it cut the filibusters off from a sea route for supplies and communication.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 11, 2015

5. National Monument of Costa Rica Marker

Detail of the National Monument of Costa Rica image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 11, 2015

6. Detail of the National Monument of Costa Rica

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 1,035 times since then and 168 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 2, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 6. submitted on February 3, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.