Hosta

Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue (Spanish: Avenida Franklin D. Roosevelt), also known simply as Roosevelt Avenue (Spanish: Avenida Roosevelt), is an avenue of the historic centre of Lima, Peru. It starts at the Paseo de la República, continuing the path of Bolivia Avenue, and continues until it reaches Jirón Cotabambas, one block away from the public park of the National University of San Marcos.

History

The avenue's first block dates back to before the 17th century, formerly a street known as Sirena after a restaurant known by the same name due its distinctive figure.^[2] Said name survived until 1945, when the Paseo de la República and Bolivia avenues were formed and extended respectively,^[2] and the avenue—now named after the U.S. President—was formally inaugurated by Councilor Max Arnillas Arana, who gave a speech at the inauguration ceremony on behalf of the Municipality of Lima.^[1]

Peruvian historian Luis A. Eguiguren claims that during the Spanish era, there was a well-known prostitute known as "the Serpent" (Spanish: La culebra), who would let male passers-by know when they had caught her attention. He also claims that another name that the street once had was Five Corners (Spanish: Cinco Esquinas)—not to be confused with the neighbourhood of the same name—after the five corners formed by the intersection of Sirena, Calonge and Cascajal streets.^[2]

From 1919 to 1924, the Rímac Building was built on the first block of the avenue, designed by Polish-Peruvian architect Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski in line with the construction boom promoted by then president Augusto B. Leguía.^[3]

During the 2023 Peruvian protests, the avenue was one of many locations where protestors marched through the streets, with rioting and arrests taking place there.^[4][5]

References