Liberia: Monrovia – Monument Hill

Monument Hill is located in the heart of Liberia’s capital city, Monrovia, and offers 360 degree views of Monrovia, the Atlantic Ocean, and surrounding areas. The main attraction here is the JJ Robert’s monument at the top of the hill. JJ Roberts was the first (and also 7th) president of Liberia. He was born free in Norfolk in Virginia, USA and emigrated to Liberia as a young man. He became the leader of roughly 4000 Americans who came to the country to establish a first republic in Africa. Also on the Monument Hill is the infamous abandoned hotel – Ducor Palace Hotel – one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. Opened in 1962, the Ducor Palace Hotel was one of West Africa’s first five-star hotels and a symbol of Liberia’s prosperity during its golden age under President William Tubman. During Liberia’s civil wars (1989–1996 and 1999–2003), the hotel was abandoned. It suffered significant damage from looting and neglect, leaving it a shell of its former grandeur. The building is now an empty, crumbling structure.