This is a free attraction located in Judiciary Square, at 20th Street and Virginia Avenue NW.  The original statue was sculpted by Augustine-Alexandre Dumont in 1924 but copy here, was given in 1985.

      Statue of Jose de San Martin (1778-1850) the South American liberator, is in the center of Judiciary Square. The statue is a copy of the original which resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

       The back wall of the monument (not shown) reads:  "Jose de San Martin" Founder of Argentine Independence.  He led the liberating army across the Andes and gave freedom to Chile and Peru.  His name like Washington's represents the American ideal of democracy, justice and liberty." The front of the Statue reads: "Libertador General Jose de San Martin" There's a plaque on the ground that reads (first in Spanish and then translated underneath in English): "March 19, 1985 To General Jose De San Martin From the President of Argentina Raul Alfonsin on the occasion of his visit to the United States of America".

     Jose Francisco de San Martin Matorras was a General in Argentina and Prime leader of the Southern part of South America during it's struggle for independence from Spain. He left his home at age 7 and studied in Madrid, Spain where he was befriended by Bernardo O'Higgins of Chile. In 1808 San Martin became involved and made contact with South American supporters of independence. In 1812 he offered his service to the United Provinces of South America (now Argentina). He served in the army and fought in the battle of San Lorenzo in 1813 and had some time as commander in the Army of the North in 1814, where he liberated Chile and attacked Lima by sea. In 1817 he crossed the Andes and won the Battles of Chacabuco and Maipu in 1818 that liberated Chile. He partially seized Lima in 1821and was appointed "Protector of Peru". Peruvian independence was officially declared July 28, 1821. After a meeting with Simon Bolívar, Bolivar finished gaining total control over Lima in 1822. San Martin left Peru unexpectedly  and resigned from the command of his army.  He left politics and the military and moved to France in 1824. Historians debate over the meeting with Bolívar and the abrupt retirement of San Martin; but regardless, San Martin is considered one of the liberators of South America and is a National hero of Argentina.