Foundational Pyramid, Neuquén
The Neuquén Foundational Pyramid, located in the city center of Neuquén, Argentina, is a monument built to commemorate the city's designation as the new National Territory Capital. Originally inaugurated in 1904, on the city foundation year, next to the "Chateau Gris", the National Territory Government building, it was moved to its current location, some meters to the north in 1954.
Being one of the first monuments erected in the city, the pyramid is preserved as a significant historic landmark, which is depicted on its coat of arms.
History and construction
The first stone of the monument was set on the city foundation date, September 12, 1904 to celebrate its designation as the National Territory capital, replacing Chos Malal, which had been from 1887 to the date. The construction, made out of bricks and cement, was finished in October of the same year through the law 4523 from the national executive branch. It was originally located next to the "Chateau Gris", which was a two-storey wooden building in swiss style, which served as the town hall and National Territory administration building.The monument stayed on its initial location until 1950, when the Chateau Gris was demolished. In 1954, it was inaugurated the San Martín Monument, placed where the pyramid was previously located. The city government decided to move the pyramid some meters to the north of the San Martín Monument, on one of the squares on the current Argentina Avenue, on the grounds of the former Chateau Gris. During the relocation, a wooden box containing mostly illegible historical papers from the National Territory government was found under the original foundations.