Juan Santamaria Statue

Although there may be some who say this story is not entirely true, ask any Costa Rican who their national hero is and they will reply "Juan Santamaria". The statue of him in his battle attire is found in Alajuela, the city of his birth, at Calle 2 and Avienda 3.

A lot is not known about him but he was born of the lower class in Costa Rica and died at a young age during the Battle of Rivas in 1856. Costa Rica gained it's independence years before and doesn't have a history of military action. However this was a period in history when a Southern American, William Walker, was attempting to enslave the whole of Central America for a Southern Confederacy. The Tico army was able to push them out of the Guanacaste Province and Walker and his men took refuge in a wooden fort in Rivas, Nicarauga.

Juan Santamaria, who apparently was the drummer boy, volunteered to set the fort on fire, on the condition that if he died in his attempt his mother would be taken care of. Although he was fatally shot, he was successful in setting the fort on fire, forcing the men out. In November of 1857 a petition for a pension was filed and according to government documents granted to Santamaria's mother. This lends proof as to the authenticity of the story.

In San Jose at the Central Banks Museums, there is a display of artifacts from the battle and Costa Rica's defense against William Walker. A detailed story of Juan Santamaria can be found there. Also an almost identical statue can be found in San Jose in front of Congress. The international airport also bears his name.

Juan Santamaria Statue in Alajuela, CR

Close up view of the statue - notice the torch used to set

the fort on fire in his right hand