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By sculptor Ethan Houser

Benito Juárez

Child to Man
A joyful day! The “Benito Juarez- Child to Man” bronze monument by sculptor Ethan Houser arrives at the Chamizal National Memorial on September 21, 2022—- 4 days before the bi-National dedication ceremony!
The unveiling Ceremony
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Benito Juárez
  • Project: Benito Juárez
  • Installation : Sep 25, 2022
  • Location: Chamizal , El Paso
  • Sculptor : Ethan Houser
News about the project
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez

Historical Background

The historical links between U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and Mexican President Benito Juárez have been long studied by historians. The shifting of the course of the Rio Grande that began the Chamizal conflict began while these two Presidents were in office, and both were locked in battles to save their respective republics (The Civil War for Lincoln, The War against France for Juárez). Juárez was born on March 21, 1806, in the village San Pablo Guelatao in the State of Oaxaca. He was of Zapotec Indian heritage. After his parents and grandparents died he lived first with his uncle and herded sheep. Eventually he was cared for by a Franciscan lay-brother who began to educate him. Juárez studied theology and law. In 1847, he was governor of Oaxaca, and in 1858, President of Mexico. As a defender of democracy he stated: "Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace." In 1862, Napoleon Ill invaded Mexico and later made Maximilian of Austria, emperor of Mexico. French troops forced Juárez to flee from the nation's capital from one town to another. In 1864, he arrived in Chihuahua City. In August 1865, he retreated to El Paso del Norte which, for nine months (1865-66), was Mexico's capital. He declined offers of asylum and invitations from Fort Bliss Army officers and El Paso residents. He vowed never to leave Mexican soil as long as it was occupied by foreign invaders. During his time in El Paso Del Norte, President Juárez helped build a new irrigation system to replace the canals that had been destroyed by floods. Juárez also met with the Chamizal residents who requested that their lands be returned which recent river floods had been had placed on the north bank, which were subsequently claimed by Norte Americanos. That boundary dispute, which was revolved a century later, resulted in the Chamizal Convention and the creation of the two commemorative parks - Parque Chamizal and the Chamizal National Memorial. Soon after Juárez left Paso del Norte, in 1866, he successfully re-united his nation. On September 16, 1888, the people of El Paso del Norte proudly re- named their town Ciudad Juárez in honor of their special friend and guest, the Citizen President of Mexico.

Benito Juárez

Interesting Facts About Benito Juárez.

Discover some facts you've maybe never heard about Benito Juárez.
01

Did you know?

"Benito Juárez-Child to Man," the fourth monument in the XII Travelers Memorial of the Southwest series, has two seated figures. One represents Mexico's greatest president as a boy of twelve; the other is Benito Juárez as an adult. The books each holds are symbolic of Benito’s lifelong passion for reading.
02

Did you know?

"Benito Juárez-Child to Man" is being sculpted by Ethan T. Houser, the son of John Houser, who, with Ethan, created the first three “Travelers.” Ethan is the grandson of Ivan Houser, who was Gutzon Borglum’s assistant during the early years of the carving of Mt. Rushmore.
03

Did you know?

President Benito Juárez established El Paso del Norte, now the City of Juárez, as Mexico’s capitol during the cold winter of 1865, which was the bleakest period of the French Intervention.
04

Did you know?

Benito Juárez, a Zapotec Indian born into poverty in1806 in a small village in the state of Oaxaca, grew up to be Mexico’s greatest president.
05

Did you know?

Benito Juárez was orphaned at age three (3) and he lived with an uncle and herded sheep for him, which accounts for the little sheep in the sculpture.
06

Did you know?

When Benito Juárez was 12 years old, he ran away, fearing his uncle's wrath over a sheep that was stolen under his watch.
07

Did you know?

As a young boy, Benito Juárez, who did not speak Spanish, traveled 38 miles, alone and on foot, to Oaxaca City to find his sister. A Franciscan bookbinder, impressed by Benito’s intelligence and his desire to learn, easily taught him to read both Spanish and Latin.
08

Did you know?

Benito Juárez was the first President of Mexico of poor, indigenous origin. He was the 26th president of Mexico from 1861 to1872. He died in office at age 66.
09

Did you know?

Benito Juárez is celebrated as both the symbol of Mexican nationalism and the symbol of resistance to foreign intervention.
10

Did you know?

Benito Juárez' birthday is March 21st, 1806. Every March 21st is now a national public and patriotic holiday in Mexico. He is the only President of Mexico to be so honored. As an Aries, his personality would have been defined by energy and passion!
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
11

Did you know?

Benito Juarez served as president in exile in the town of El Paso del Norte for approximately nine months in 1864-65, during a portion of the time France occupied Mexico. Maximilian's French Intervention Army was in Mexico from 1861-1867.
12

Did you know?

In 1888, the name El Paso del Norte was changed to Ciudad Juarez in honor of their special friend and guest, the Citizen President of Mexico, Benito Pablo Juarez.
13

Did you know?

The commander of the Union Forces at Ft. Bliss offered Benito Juarez refuge in El Paso at the residence of Simeon Hart, of flour mill fame, who later built and lived in El Paso’s famous Hacienda Restaurant. Juarez politely declined, stating he would not leave his beloved Mexico, as long as the French invaders occupied his country. He was determined to liberate his homeland.
14

Did you know?

While Presidents Benito Juárez and Abraham Lincoln never met, their ideals and their lives are connected in our collective memories of their nations' civil wars. They are an inspiration to us all.
15

Did you know?

Lincoln was six feet four inches tall and Juarez was four feet six inches. No matter their heights, both were giants in the eyes of each of their countries’ people.
16

Did you know?

A medallion, sculpted by Ethan Houser, of the profiles of the two presidents, Juarez and Lincoln, will be on display at Chamizal National Memorial. It represents the friendship and deep respect they had for each other, as both men were leading their countries through tumultuous civil wars.
17

Did you know?

In 1964, on the Juarez side, an 18 foot bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln was erected with the understanding that the U.S. would create a corresponding monument of Benito Juarez. The non-profit board of the XII Travelers and Chamizal National Memorial are making this understanding a reality. Finally, after 156 years, these two great presidents will face each other across the Rio Grande!
18

Did you know?

When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, President Benito Juarez ordered the Mexican government’s flags to be flown at half-mast and ordered all government workers to wear mourning attire for nine days in Lincoln’s honor.
19

Did you know?

As a defender of Democracy, Benito Juarez stated:
"Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others means peace."
Other quotes attributed to him:
“Education is the basis for progress and freedom.”
“The emission of ideas by the press ought to be as free as the human capacity for thought.”
“Men are nothing. Principles are everything.”
20

Did you know?

The Benito Juarez sculpture has two figures. One is the young Benito, a 12 year old Zapotec sheepherder with a lamb at his feet. The other represents President Juarez in El Paso del Norte, during the winter of 1865, with a book in his hands, Notes to My Children, that he wrote, expressing his love of family and his nation.
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
21

Did you know?

Benito Juarez, at the age of 37, married Margarita Maza. She was 17 and from a socially prominent family from Oaxaca. Their ethnically mixed marriage was very unusual at the time.
22

Did you know?

Benito Juarez with his wife, Margarita, had 13 children. They produced 10 girls and 3 boys. In addition, Juarez had a son and daughter by a previous marriage. Two of his and Margarita’s boys and three of the girls died in early childhood. His surviving son, Benito, followed in his father’s political footsteps.
23

Did you know?

When Juarez was battling Maximilian's army to free his nation from French oppression, his wife, Margarita, and their children, went into exile. They lived first in New York City and later in Washington D.C.
24

Did you know?

Margarita, Benito Juarez’ wife, met President Lincoln several times when she was in exile in the United States. President Lincoln received her at the White House as the First Lady of Mexico.
25

Did you know?

Benito Juarez, as head of the Mexico's Supreme Court in 1857, was instrumental in creating the law that gave asylum to any slave from any country who touched Mexican soil, regardless of the slave's record. As “Chief Justice,” he also, by constitutional law, simultaneously held the position of Vice-President of Mexico.
26

Did you know?

When President Andrew Johnson could not get sufficient support in Congress to aid Juarez fighting the French invaders, he allegedly had the Army "lose" some supplies, including rifles, near the border with Mexico that were then picked up by the soldiers of the Juarez army.
27

Did you know?

William Seward, of Seward’s Folly fame, sent 50,000 battle seasoned troops to Benito Juarez to assist in ousting Napoleon III from Mexico.
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez
Benito Juarez

Relationship to the XII Travelers Memorial of the Southwest, Inc.

Benito Juárez

The XII Travelers of the Southwest, Inc. is a non-profit group who has been involved in raising money and designing and placing monuments dedicated to significant historical figures in the El Paso border region. "Benito Juarez, from child to Man," the fourth monument in the XII Travelers series, will depict two representations of Mexico's greatest president. The first figure is President Juarez in El Paso del Norte during the cold winter of 1865, the darkest period of the French intervention. While seated on a bench within the interior patio of his headquarters near Guadalupe Mission, he is determined to liberate his country. He clasp his book which he wrote, "Notes for My Children," that extols the love for his family and nation. Seated on the other side, is young Benito, the 12-year-old Zapotec Indian boy. Although he does not read, he is inspired to learn. As he holds a book, he curiously looks towards his future in the direction of the adult Juarez. The monument's components, also in bronze, will include a large medallion of Benito Juarez and Abraham Lincoln, a bilingual story board, and a donors' acknowledgement plaque. These components will be mounted an exhibit wall near the statue.

Statement of Need

National Park Service Management Policies state that "The primary function of some commemorative works...is to describe, explain, or otherwise attest to the significance of a park's resources...Therefore, permanent installations of this nature will not be allowed unless it can clearly be demonstrated that the work will substantially increase visitor's appreciation of the significance of park resources or values, and do so more effectively than other interpretive media." Installation of the "Benito Juarez, from Child to Man" monument is needed at the Chamizal National Memorial for the following reasons:

  • The Benito Juarez monument at the Chamizal National Memorial would greatly expand visitor opportunities to link the beginning of the Chamizal story to the greater story of the positive relationship between the United States and Mexico. The placement of the Juarez monument looking toward Mexico at the entrance of the Chamizal Cultural Center would provide a visual introduction and a geographic understanding of the Chamizal story.
  • The historical and cultural links between President Abraham Lincoln and President Benito Juárez support Chamizal National Memorial interpretive themes. It was also during their presidencies that the Rio Grande altered its course through El Chamizal, eventually leading their two countries to dispute the boundary.
  • Both presidents are also symbols as leaders who guided their respective countries through great wars to preserve their nations. The placing of the statue of Lincoln in Mexico and the statue of Juarez in the U.S., is seen by both nations as a symbol of unity between the two nations.
  • While Mexico erected a statue of President Abraham Lincoln in Juarez in 1964, the U.S. has yet to erect a statue of President Benito Juarez on the U.S. side of the border. Both the 1984 Development Concept Plan and the 2016 Foundation Document supports the placing of a Juarez monument at the Chamizal National Memorial.

The XII Travelers Memorial of the Southwest, Inc. materials state: "It is appropriate that the Chamizal National Memorial will be the site for this international monument."

Donor Categories:

to be listed on a wall panel near the monument
Benito Juárez

All project supporters who generously contribute $2,000 or more,will be recognized on the on the bronze donor plaque at the Chamizal National Memorial Those donating $10,000 or more will receive a bronze maquette, if they so choose.

  • Heritage Traveler $100,000 or more
  • Sojourner $50,000 to $99,999
  • Discoverer $25,000 to $59,999
  • Pathfinder $10,000 to $24,999
  • Explorer $5,000 to $9,999
  • Trailblazer $2,000 to $4,999

Monument for Chamizal National Memorial

The XII Travelers Memorial of the Southwest (non-profit organization) and the Chamizal National Memorial, have established a partnership to erect a monument of Benito Juárez, México's renowned President, at the entrance of the Chamizal Cultural Center. Chamizal National Memorial is a most appropriate site for the statue. Forty-four years ago, in 1972, the people of El Paso wanted a Benito Juárez monument in the park, but it never became a reality.

In August 1865, during the bleakest period of the French Intervention, Juárez, his cabinet and military escorts, were forced to retreat from Chihuahua City north to El Paso del Norte (present-day Cd. Juárez). During his nine-month residency, the town was the capital of México. Twenty-two years later, to honor their guest, The Citizen President, they proudly renamed their town, Ciudad Juárez. In 1866, Juárez met with Chamizal residents about the lands they had lost as result of the horrific floods of 1862 and 1864, which repositioned the Río Grande channel (the international boundary) within U.S. territory.

Nearly a century later, in 1963, the two nations agreed to settle the Chamizal Boundary Dispute and to create Chamizal Parks on both sides of river in celebration of mutual friendship. On October 28, 1967, Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz celebrated the transfer of land at the Chamizal Park in Ciudad Juárez. Just a few years earlier, the government of Mexico had erected a statue of Abraham Lincoln nearby. The United States and Mexico also exchanged statues of their former presidents. A statue of Abraham Lincoln was given by the United States and installed in Mexico City in 1966. In 1969, Mexico sent a statue of Benito Juárez to Washington, DC, where it and other iconic monuments are protected by the National Park Service.

The statue by the co-sculptors, John Houser and Ethan Houser, will feature President Juárez and the younger Benito Juárez. The president is seated on a bench within the patio of his El Paso del Norte headquarters. Little Benito, the 12-year old sheep herder from a remote Zapotec Indian village in Oaxaca, is seated at the other end of the bench and gazes towards his future – in the direction of the president. He holds a book that inspires him to read and write.

A major component of the Juárez monument will be a bronze medallion of the two contemporary presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Benito Juárez, who mutually supported each other when their nations were beset by civil war. The medallion will be mounted, near the monument, on a wall panel with a bi-lingual storyboard and a donor acknowledgement plaque.The statue and medallion reinforce the symbolic relationship of the two neighboring Chamizal Parks – the friendship between México and the United States. Sales of limited editions of the medallion and other project related art, will subsidize the monument's production. Although there are many schools, clinics and other institutions in both countries with the combined names of both presidents, such a medallion has yet to be produced. Two historic photographs are principal references for the medallion. One is the photo of President Juárez in El Paso del Norte by George A. Gaige. The other is a portrait of President Lincoln by H.W. Fay, which was a reference in the creation of Mt. Rushmore.

Chamizal El Paso
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