The obelisk has a height of 32 meters. It is made of jaimanite stone and rises on a black granite base of 8 square meters.  Above the base, there are half-reliefs with allegorical figures. They are the work of the Cuban artists Lumbardo and Ernesto Navarro. The obelisk has a square section with four equal trapezoidal faces. The body of the tower is decorated with geometric motifs at its center. They function to allow the entry of air and light inside of the obelisk. The body of the obelisk ends in a balcony that serves as an excellent viewpoint. It is topped by a lighthouse. The needle-shaped lightning rod on the lighthouse led to the popular imaginary that the monument represents a syringe, as it was built to pay homage to Finlay that was nicknamed La Jeringuilla (the Syringe), but this is not true. Even though, the obelisk is dedicated to Carlos J. Finlay, unfortunately there is not any inscription or plaque that indicates it.

The obelisk and the four buildings around it constitute an architectural artistic Art-Deco complex, in that the obelisk is the central element. The complex was designed and built by the Cuban engineer José Pérez Benitoa with the support of the Ministry of Public Works. These buildings are:

1. Conrado Duany Pulido Basic High School

2. Lázaro Ramón Alpízar Hernández School of Economics (former Kindergarten School)

3. San Alejandro National Academy of Fine Arts (former Flor Martiana Educational Center)

4. The asylum Hermanas Giral, old nursing home "Conchita Gómez"

These four buildings have common characteristics, such as:

• All buildings are the same distance from the Obelisk.

• All are two-story buildings with a central courtyard.

• Each building has a large porch, consisting of ten columns, made of jaimanite stone.

• Each porch is slightly concave, adapting to the layout of the square.

• Above each porch, there is a flat front and the only adornment at the facade is the name of the institution.

• All buildings have a front area, occupied by a garden and car parking.

• Each building occupies an area of ​​around 2.000 square meters.

• In the panels that separate the windows of both floors, there are sculptures, representing the activities of each center.

The Municipal Department of Culture awards a prize that consists of a small ceramic replica of the obelisk. This is granted to people that stand out in promoting the Marianao culture.