See the Monument to the Revolution at dawn or dusk to appreciate its size. The massive art deco design towers over other buildings in the area. Walk around the large Republic Square in front of the monument or visit when the square is filled with protesters marching, camping or displaying solidarity for victims of varying oppression.
President Porfirio Díaz planned an impressive legislative palace for this spot and selected an architect from France to demonstrate the worldliness of Mexico. The president placed the first stone in 1910 and a steel internal structure including a distinctive cupola was erected. However, work stalled when revolutionary conflicts created limited availability of resources. See the cupola today atop a structure very different from the president’s original vision.
After the revolution, rather than dismantling the abandoned building supports, the Mexican architect Carlos Obregón Santacilia sought and earned approval to erect a monument to the revolution incorporating the still standing cupola. This construction lasted from 1933 to 1938 and yielded today’s monument, which stands alone in this part of Mexico City’s historical center. Imagine the sumptuous palace that might have been built if the revolution had not occurred.
Note the sculptures on the copper cupola representing Independence and the Agrarian Laws, Reformation Laws and Worker Laws brought about by the efforts of the revolutionaries. The monument also serves as a mausoleum, holding the remains of some of the most influential of the revolutionaries, including Francisco I. Madero, Venustiano Carranza, Francisco Villa, Plutarco Elías Cales and Lázaro Cárdenas. Visit the Revolutionary Museum also housed in the monument.
The Monument to the Revolution is a giant structure within the Plaza de la República in the historical center of Mexico City. Cool off in the square’s small fountains or check to see if any cultural or music festivals are scheduled here during your visit. Use the Revolución subway stop. Stroll along the nearby tree-lined Reforma Avenue or cross it and walk about 10 minutes to other cultural attractions in Central Alameda.
