The base of the column is quadrangular, each vertex having a sculpture symbolizing , , and . Originally there were nine steps leading to the base, but due to the sinking of the ground fourteen more steps were added. On the main face of the base, which faces downtown Mexico City, there is the following inscription: "The Nation to the Heroes of Independence". In front of this inscription is a bronze statue of a giant lion led by a child, representing strength and the innocence of youth during War but docility during Peace.
Next to the column there is a group of statues representing some of the heroes from the .
The column itself is 36 meters high. The structure is made of covered with quarried stone decorated with garlands, palms and rings with the names of Independence figures. Inside the column is a two-hundred step staircase which leads to a viewpoint above the . The
-style capital is adorned by four eagles with extended wings from the
used at the time.
Crowning the column there is a 6.7 meter statue by
of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory (), like other similar victory columns around the world. It is made of bronze, covered with 24Kand weighs 7 tons. In her right hand the Angel holds a crown above Miguel Hidalgo's head, symbolizing Victory, while in her left she holds a broken chain, symbolizing Freedom.
The construction of the monument was ordered in 1902 by
. The architect
was in charge with the design of the monument, while the actual construction was supervised by Mexican engineers Gonzalo Garita and Manuel Gorozpe. All the sculptures were made by the artist .
An honoring these heroes was installed in the base of the column at the order of President in 1929.
The monument suffered some damages during an earthquake on July 28th, 1957 when the sculpture of the Winged Victory fell to the ground and broke into several pieces. The sculptor was in charge with the restoration, which lasted more than one year. The monument was reopened on September 16th, 1958. It survived, undamaged, the of September 19th, 1985.
