El Monumento a Los Héroes de la Restauración (The Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration) is the center of Santiago, Dominican Republic. In 1944, Rafael Trujillo, dictator of Dominican Republic for 30 years, ordered the construction of the monument in his own honor. After Trujillo’s assassination in 1961, the government thought about destroying the monument, considering it was originally built in honor of Trujillo. But the government decided to save the monument and change the name to what it is today. Today, the people of Santiago are so proud of the monument because it adds charm and character to the city. I am so lucky to be able to walk out of my house and see the monument every day.
Fortaleza San Luís (The San Luis Fort) has a long history. It was first a battlefield as the fort was used during the War of Restoration. Then, it was used as a U.S. Marines base during the first US occupation in the Dominican Republic. Years later, it was a prison. Finally, in 2004, it was renovated and converted into a museum. The museum displays numerous Taino (the indigenous people of Dominican Republic) artifacts and cultural items, as well as paintings, period swords and photographs of the U.S. occupation at the fort.
