Monuments erected to honor a specific person or an important event can be anything from columns that visitors can walk up and into to statues that become icons for the region to artworks that capture and represent a specific piece of history. The Monumento a la Revolución (Monument to the Revolution) in Mexico City does all of these things to highlight the legacy of the people, history and events that saw the Mexican Revolution form modern Mexico.
While the Monumento a la Revolución resides near the heart of Mexico City and close to major attractions like the Paseo de la Reforma and Alameda Central Park, it is distinct from every other landmark in the city in both form and function. By creating multiple experiences that residents and tourists can enjoy in different ways, the Monumento a la Revolución has created a powerful legacy for the entire country.
A Monument to the Revolution of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow and Always
Construction of the Palacio Legislativo (Federal Legislative Palace), which was to hold the country’s deputies and senators congress chambers, was originally planned in the early 1900s. It was to be among the biggest and most luxurious in the world, and construction began with the erection of the steel structure of the building in 1910. However, construction was suspended in 1912 due to the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution. Efforts by other leaders in the 1920s to finish the project were never fulfilled, so the abandoned steel structure was left exposed for over 20 years.
Eventually, Mexican architect Carlos Obregón Santacilia proposed giving the structure a new meaning to create a monument that would be dedicated “to the revolution of yesterday, today, tomorrow and always.” In 1936, the monument was established as a mausoleum for the heroes of the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Four stone sculpture groups for the monument were also created as part of this transformation, and the monument was finished in 1938. Access to the observation deck was made available via two elevators.
In 1970, access to the observation deck was permanently obscured, which led to the monument being abandoned. Art that otherwise would have adorned the monument and surrounding square was placed elsewhere in the city. In 2010 though, for the Centennial of the Revolution, the rescue, remodeling and rebuilding of the Monumento a la Revolución took place. That saw the creation of a new panoramic elevator that restored access to the observation deck as well as the creation of world-class exhibits.
All of this history is on display throughout the Monumento a la Revolución, from the foundations when the structure was intended to be the Palacio Legislativo to the copper dome that protects visitors while they look across Mexico City in every direction. This history is one of the reasons that the Monumento a la Revolución has become an icon for Mexico City, but it’s the experiences it has enabled for both residents and visitors that make it so unique.
A 360 Degree Look at Mexico City
Considered to be the tallest triumphal arch in the world at 67 meters (220 ft) in height, the Monumento a la Revolución can be seen at various locations across Mexico City. However, it’s the 360-view from the top of the monument that is even more remarkable. A stone and copper double dome crowns the monument, while viewers can walk all the way around the interior to see every side of the city. The observation deck presents these views from the exterior, where visitors can get a better look at the monument’s most distinctive features.
From the observation deck, viewers can get a close look at the male and female sculptures with their sickles and swords of justice representing Independence, the Reform Laws, Agrarian Laws, and Labor Laws. These sculptures have the potential to become important icons for Mexico, and their prominent placement up at the top of Monumento a la Revolución has allowed them to influence the identity of the city.
The interactions with these statues are completely different and distinct from the ones that can be enabled for visitors paying their respects to the heroes of the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Francisco “Pancho” Villa, Francisco I. Madero, Plutarco Elías Calles, Venustiano Carranza, and Lázaro Cárdenas have all been interred at the base of the four pillars of the structure. The experiences that can be enabled with these heroes of the revolution are as distinct as they are powerful.
By being a literal and figurative hub for the city, the Monumento a la Revolución has come to serve as a gathering place for everyone from street vendors to tourists to residents. Many of these gatherings take place in the Plaza de la República (Republic Square) that surrounds the monument. This activity has had a remarkable impact on the culture and economy of Mexico City, in direct and indirect ways.
Impacting the Economy and Culture of Mexico City
Multimedia and exhibition space has been set aside in the Monumento a la Revolución and is designed to enrich visitors experiences. It is home to a variety of temporary art exhibits and events throughout the year. The National Museum of the Revolution is also contained in the structure, which allows visitors to experience the history of the Mexican Revolution in a more direct manner.
The activity that is a constant presence at the base of the Monumento a la Revolución and in Plaza de la República is a small example of the impact it has enabled for the culture of Mexico City as a whole. It’s an impact that extends to organized events that take place at the monument, which range from the Tecnogeist electronic music festival to a “Zombie Walk” that has resulted in an appearance in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The economic impact of these events is considerable, and they tie into other means of direct and indirect economic opportunities. The Adelita Café is located at the top of the monument, which provides visitors with a literal taste of Mexican cuisine. Items for purchase there and in the souvenir shop at the base of the monument contain various options for visitors to purchase.
As evidenced by the placement of the Monumento a la Revolución in tours and on materials designed to appeal to visitors, the landmark has become an attraction that pulls in an audience from far and wide. This impact has helped to enable the creation of a legacy that continues to evolve and grow and serves as a vital element of Mexico City in the present for the future.
More than a Monument to the Revolution
Mexico City is full of landmarks and attractions that honor and commemorate various eras and event in the history of the region, but the Monumento a la Revolución is unique both in terms of what it is and what it represents. By creating a structure that celebrates and preserves essential aspects of the Mexican Revolution, the monument has been able to appeal to both residents and tourists to become an icon.
The Monumento a la Revolución honors the Mexican Revolution in numerous ways, but in doing so has come to represent something beyond the people and history of this seminal event for the city and country. Doing so has created a legacy that continues to have a positive impact on the culture and economy of Mexico City.
