Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Mexico City Alexander Von Humboldt Monument

Alexander Von Humboldt Monument

A bronze statue of the famed Prussian naturalist commemorates the year he spent in Mexico.

Mexico City, Mexico

Added By
Mictlān Tēcutli
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The monument to Alexander Von Humboldt.   Ziko van Dijk/cc by-sa 3.0
The monument to Alexander Von Humboldt.   Ziko/cc by-sa 4.0
The statue even includes a little basilisk lizard by Humboldt’s boot.   Ziko/cc by-sa 4.0
Humboldt and the backdrop of the Alameda Central.   Ziko/cc by-sa 4.0
The house where Humboldt lived during his time in Mexico is located in the nearby Zocalo.   Thelmadatter/public domain
Alexander Von Humboldt Monument   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
  pml33040 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In Mexico City's Alameda Central, the oldest public park of the Americas, stands a charismatic bronze sculpture that portrays one of the greatest explorers and naturalists the world has seen, Alexander Von Humboldt.

The Prussian polymath is best known for his explorations and scientific discoveries in the Amazon and Andean regions of South America, but he also spent a significant amount of time in Mexico at the beginning of the 19th century, pioneering the study of its rich fauna, flora, and geology.

After having spent many years exploring vast areas of the South American continent, Humboldt and his colleague, the French botanist Aime Bonpland, were intent on undertaking a voyage across the Pacific to study Polynesia and Southeast Asia. The pair decided to head to Acapulco on the western coast of Mexico (then known as the colony of New Spain) where they hoped to board a ship destined for the islands of the Philippines, which were then also a part of Spain's vast empire. 

Upon reaching Mexico, however, the possibility of fully exploring the country that greeted his arrival proved to be irresistible for the eternally curious Prussian. What was to be a short stay soon became a year of adventures and discoveries. The viceroy of New Spain gave Humboldt letters of permission and introduction, which allowed him to travel freely across the entire country. He was also granted access to crown records, mines, canals, estates, and even pre-Hispanic archeological sites that had been forbidden to explore for centuries. 

This apparent act of generosity was not entirely devoid of self-interest on the part of the viceroyalty, who were keen for Humboldt to apply his geological expertise toward improving methods of mining of Mexico's rich silver deposits. Humboldt applied himself to the task at hand and within a couple of months had revolutionized the mining system of New Spain. He was then able to focus his undivided attention on exploring other aspects of Mexico. In a single year, Humboldt did more than most do in a lifetime as he excavated and measured ancient Aztec ruins and artifacts, climbed volcanos and mountains, and documented and studied strange plants and animals, discovering several new species in the process. 

Humboldt finally left the country via the port of Veracruz and headed to Cuba, then took a ship to the United States where he was to meet and befriend then-president Thomas Jefferson, as he had done previously with the South American revolutionary and political figure Simon Bolivar. The year spent in Mexico was a formative one for both the scientist and the Mexican nation, and when the country achieved its independence from Spain, the first Mexican president, Guadalupe Victoria, granted Humboldt citizenship. Beset by financial and political burdens, Humboldt never returned to the Americas, but he continues to be viewed as a hero in the region.

The statue of Humboldt in Alameda Central Park, commissioned in 1999 by the Mexican government, commemorates the 200th anniversary of his visit to the country and the contributions he made to scientific progress. If you look at the boots of the figure you will notice three symbolic details representing his contributions to different fields. A basilisk lizard can be found crawling up the side of the explorer's boot, symbolizing his contributions to zoology and biology. A vine can be seen, representing discoveries made in botany, and finally, a little notepad with a mathematic equation represents the advances he made in geology.  

Related Tags

Exploration Explorers Science Naturalists Natural History Statues Monuments History Geology Parks

Know Before You Go

You can get to Alameda Central Park by taking the metro (Line 2, blue line, direction: Cuatro Caminos/ Tasquena) to the Metro Bellas Artes station, and then walking a short way. Not far from the park you can also see the house that Humboldt lived during his stay in Mexico. Just head to the Zocalo and look for the Republica de Uruguay street; the house is number 80 and the building is painted orange. A small plaque on the wall gives further information about his residence here.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Oaxaca: Markets, Mezcal & Home-Cooked Meals

A Culinary and Cultural Journey Through Oaxaca.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Monsieur Mictlan

Edited By

Xavixavir, pml33040

  • Xavixavir
  • pml33040

Published

December 7, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Alexander Von Humboldt Monument
Unnamed Road
Mexico City
Mexico
19.435737, -99.143976
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Benjamín Carrión Statue

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Franz Mayer Museum Courtyard

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Franz Mayer Museum Silver Collection

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico City

Mexico City

Mexico

Places 180
Stories 17

Nearby Places

Benjamín Carrión Statue

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Franz Mayer Museum Courtyard

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Franz Mayer Museum Silver Collection

Mexico City, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico City

Mexico City

Mexico

Places 180
Stories 17

Related Stories and Lists

An Explorer's Guide to Exploration Itself

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Stockholm, Sweden

    Berzelius Park

    This statue and park honor the Swedish chemist Jacob Berzelius, one of the founders of modern chemistry.

  • The Powell Memorial.

    Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

    Powell Memorial

    A monument to the one-armed geologist who led the first documented expeditions through the Grand Canyon.

  • Captain Cook Statue

    Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

    Captain James Cook National Historic Site

    A statue of the early navigator stands overlooking the land he first surveyed.

  • Washington, D.C.

    Daguerre Monument

    Go take a picture with the inventor of the daguerreotype photographic process.

  • A crowd of statues

    Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Garden of the Generalissimos

    A Taiwanese garden teems with the retired statues of the island's former dictator.

  • The Juneteenth Monument at Ashton Villa.

    Galveston, Texas

    Juneteenth Monument at Ashton Villa

    The statue, located at a mansion-turned-emancipation museum, honors Galveston’s history as the birthplace of Juneteenth.

  • Taken May 2024 -  Photographer Anna Duren

    Toyama, Japan

    Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato (Village of Statues)

    This abandoned park is home to hundreds of stone statues ranging from humans to mystical beings.

  • The Tsunenaga Statue in Civitavecchia

    Civitavecchia, Italy

    Hasekura Tsunenaga Statue

    Why does this Italian coastal city have a statue of a 17th-century samurai?

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.