Making Mexico More "Latin": National Identity, Statuary and Heritage in Mexico City's Monument to Independence

Latin American identities are embedded in symbolic landscapes designed to memorialize the past by reconfiguring key public places. Historical narratives, cultural ideologies and political messages are vital components of the meanings of monuments that are constructed to honor the nation. Analyzing changes in symbolic landscapes yields insights to allow one to understand the shifts in national identities. Mexico City's 1910 Monument to Independence on Paseo de la Reforma is an example of how national, regional and globalized identities are enmeshed with monuments in a symbolic landscape. The Mexican government used the centennial to portray a distinctly "Latin" identity for Mexico.