Birthplace of Simón Bolívar The Birthplace of Simón Bolívar ( ) is a seventeenth - century house in the Venezuelan capital city Caracas , that now serves as a museum for the Venezuelan independence hero Simón Bolívar . Now a significant tourist attraction in Caracas , the building is located in a little street off the Plaza San Jacinto , opposite Plaza El Venezolano to the west of the city in the historic center which is the old colonial part of the city , and a block east of the Plaza Bolivar . History . The house on San Jacinto Street was completed in 1643 . Bolivar was born to Doña María de la Concepción Palacios y Blanco and Coronel Don Juan Vicente Bolívar y Ponte in the bedroom here on 24 July 1783 , and was the fourth child of the aristocratic couple of the Creole family who had migrated from Spain 200 years earlier . In 1806 , the house was sold to a wealthy landowner who was related to Bolívar . The later owners had neglected the house and it had to be refurbished . Reconstruction of the house was ordered on October 28 , 1916 , with the purpose of preserving Venezuela ' s cultural heritage , and to honor its national hero with a gallery and museum dedicated to him , but it was not until 1920 when the house actually underwent reconstruction with added refinements . It was inaugurated on 5 January 1921 on the anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo . The building became a listed National Monument on 25 July 2002 . Architecture . Built in a fine colonial style , the red - brick structure has wide corridors and courtyards and patios . The single - storey building occupies a narrow plot with a dividing wall , in height . At the time of Bolívar ' s birth , the home was opulently furnished with mahogany chests and tables , upholstered chairs , decorated mirrors ; damask curtains , gold cornices , and bright chandeliers . Period furniture and artifacts belonging to Bolívar can now be seen in the building . The house has a sequence of courtyards surrounded by corridors and rooms . In the main courtyard is the baptismal font used for Bolívar ' s baptism , originally located in Caracas Cathedral . The second courtyard serves as ventilation to the kitchen and other rooms , and includes a replica of a water fountain from the time of Bolívar . At the end of the house is a small pen - laundry and stable . Among those which stand out are the main room , the bedroom ( site where Simón Bolívar was born ) and the cabinet , which occupy the front body of the building . They are decorated with murals executed by the painter Tito Salas . These very large paintings by Salas depict Bolívar ' s heroic battles and scenes during his life . In one painting at the house , Salas depicts Bolívar on a white mountain with a white bearded man with angel wings . There are also paintings of his life scenes by Martín Tovar y Tovar and Arturo Michelena , including his christening , wedding and death . There is also a tree in the backyard of the house , which is famous as it is said to be the location where Simon was taught by Rodriguez . Bolivar ’ s childhood mementos such as his library and personal records are also exhibited . The museum next to the house also has his uniform and documents , independence memorabilia , weapons and furniture of that period . Dispute over Bolívar ' s birthplace . Despite the Venezuelan authorities assertion that Bolívar was born in Caracas , there have been claims that the much poorer town of San Mateo , Aragua , was in fact his true birthplace . The claims are based on the fact that Bolívar ' s mother had certainly been living at the San Mateo ranch shortly before his birth and that as a child , Bolívar spent much of his time there . Another home . There is also another family home of Bolivar which has historical importance . It was the venue where the independence movement was launched on 19 April 1810 after the freedom fighters had conspired to act during their first meeting at this home in 1818 . Eventually , as result of this movement Venezuela got its independence from Spain , on 5 July 1815 . Bolivar ' s equestrian is also the landmark in the Bolivar Square , now called Plaza Mayor .