Tugu Pahlawan is the 41-metre obelisk at the heart of Surabaya's civic life, commemorating the 1945 Battle of Surabaya that became a defining moment in Indonesia's independence struggle. The monument stands in a plaza that is a gathering point for the city — ceremonies, protests, and daily life all pass through here.
Below the obelisk is an underground museum with dioramas and exhibits on the battle and the independence movement. The museum is small but well done, and gives useful context for understanding why Surabaya wears the "City of Heroes" title so seriously. The plaza around the monument has a pleasant park quality, with old trees and a good view of the colonial-era buildings nearby.