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Primary sourceArtifact17th century, restored 1919

Quinta de Bolívar

17th century, restored 1919

A colonial country house in Bogotá given to Bolívar in 1820 in gratitude for his role in independence, where he stayed during visits to the capital.

This was Bolívar's own house in Bogotá, given to him in 1820, where he lived with Manuela Sáenz.

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Entrance gate of the Quinta de Bolívar with the sign 'QUINTA DE BOLÍVAR' above an arched doorway in a white wall with red base. A green ornamental fountain sits in a circular stone basin in the foreground, surrounded by brick paving and tall trees.
Entrance to the Quinta de Bolívar, Bogotá.

About this source

What it is

Built in the late 17th century by a Spanish merchant, this country house near Bogotá was given to Simón Bolívar by the new independent government in 1820 as thanks for his role in the war of independence. He stayed there on his visits to Bogotá until around 1830. It later passed through many hands before becoming a national museum dedicated to his life.

Why it matters

The gift of the house shows how the new republic honoured its liberator. It was also the setting for his relationship with Manuela Sáenz. Its later history, including the theft and return of Bolívar's sword by a guerrilla group, shows how objects connected to him remained politically powerful long after his death.

Look closer

  • Why might a grateful government choose to give a house rather than money or a title?
  • What does the later theft of Bolívar's sword tell you about his continuing symbolic importance?
  • What can a house tell us about a person that documents cannot?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Simón Bolívar on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Photograph of an aged, handwritten manuscript page on yellowed paper, lying open in a white book or folder. Dense cursive script fills the page, with a faded blue stamp from the Banco Central del Ecuador in the upper right corner and a stamp in the upper left. The photo carries an Andes news agency watermark.Letter

Primary source

Carta de Jamaica

Simón Bolívar · 1815

Black and white engraved portrait of a man in a military uniform with epaulettes and braided buttons, with short hair and a mustache, looking to his left. The caption below reads BOLIVAR. Printed on a cream sheet with the number 3 in the upper right corner.Painting

Secondary source

Portrait of Bolívar (Leipzig engraving)

Speech

Primary source

Speech of Angostura

Simón Bolívar · 15 February 1819

Black-and-white steel engraved portrait of a man with dark wavy hair and a mustache, wearing a high-collared military uniform with epaulettes and buttoned coat. Below the image are the printed title 'Bolivar' and credit lines.Painting

Secondary source

Steel Engraved Portrait of Bolívar by W. Holl after M.N. Bate

William Holl II · 1853

A painting of a man in a white shirt holding a quill and pointing at a document on a table, while a uniformed officer in a dark cape stands opposite, with soldiers and a seated scribe behind. A dog sits at left.Document

Primary source

Decree of War to the Death

Simón Bolívar · 15 June 1813

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