Simon Bolivar, Father of the Venezuelan Nation and Liberator of South America, is interred at the National Pantheon of Venezuela. The pantheon also houses the graves and memorials of heroes who fought in the Venezuelan War of Independence, several Venezuelan presidents and prominent cultural personalities.
The National Pantheon, where wreath-laying ceremonies often take place, was originally built as the Trinity Church under the direction of Juan Domingo del Sacramento. It took 39 years, from 1744 until 1783, to build the Church, and on March 27, 1874, President Antonio Guzman Blanco signed a decree proclaiming the Church the National Pantheon of Venezuela.
In 1876, the monument to the Liberator built by Petre Tenerani was moved from the cathedral to the pantheon. Three lines of tombs symbolise three ships sailing into the future. The central line is crowned with a monument to Simon Bolivar. Two other monuments are dedicated to the memory of his closest supporters, Francisco de Miranda and Antonio Sucre.
In 1930, the façade was reconstructed in connection with the 100th anniversary of Simon Bolivar's death, and the central tower was enlarged and expanded. An urn containing the Liberator's remains was placed in front of the monument to Bolivar.