Institution

More information from the National Park Service

More Info

La Fortaleza (The Fortress) serves as the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. This historic fortress was built Spanish engineers and enslaved laborers between 1533 and 1540, for the purpose of defending the harbor of San Juan. La Fortaleza is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina (Santa Catalina's Palace) and it remains the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the New World. UNESCO included La Fortaleza as a World Heritage Site in 1983

La Fortaleza

This walking tour includes a variety of Clio entries authored by members of the National Park Service. We hope to expand the tour to include additional sites in the near future. 

National Park Service Tour of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

The
Old Navy Arsenal (Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina) is a complex of buildings and
courtyards which contributes to the Old San Juan (Puerto Rico) National
Historic Landmark District. In 1791 the Spanish Colonial government, began the
construction of the Arsenal as a naval station to counter British attacks on
the city. The original wood and palm tree leaf (yaguas) complex housed a small
fleet that patrolled the shallow waters and mangrove swamps around the bay.
Beginning in 1800, the Arsenal subsequently became a citadel for the marina
with storage space, offices, living quarters, workshops, a coast guard,
kitchens, and its own chapel. This expansion over time resulted in a mixture of
architectural styles that range from Romanesque to Neoclassical. In 1898 the
complex was the last stronghold of Spanish rule in the City before its capture
by the U. S. Army in the Spanish‐American War. In 1957 the
Government of Puerto Rico acquired the majority of the complex from the federal
government of the United States through the Historic Surplus Properties
Program. The remainder of the property was conveyed through the same program in
1975. Today the complex houses the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, where its
Plastic Art Program offices are located. The complex features three exhibition
galleries and a large capacity activity hall where cultural events are
celebrated.

The Old Navy Arsenal (Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina) is a complex of buildings and courtyards which contributes to the Old San Juan (Puerto Rico) National Historic Landmark District. In 1791 the Spanish Colonial government, began the construction of the Arsenal as a naval station to counter British attacks on the city.  In 1957 the Government of Puerto Rico acquired the majority of the complex from the federal government of the United States through the Historic Surplus Properties Program. The remainder of the property was conveyed through the same program in 1975.

The Old Navy Arsenal

The
Beneficencia Building (Asilo de Beneficencia) was the first large-scale
building constructed in the Ballajá Quarter of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Initially proposed in 1838, construction began in 1841 to provide a general
establishment for public welfare. The facility opened in 1844 and completed in
1848. During its first years, the building housed the mentally ill, inmates,
orphans, and other dependent or needy persons. The original one-story building
was organized around two courts formed by an E-floor plan. The wings allowed
for separation of genders while the central wing housed the entrance, chapel, administrative
offices, and workshops. The second floor was expanded in 1896-97 when the entire
façade was redesigned in the Neoclassical-style.&nbsp; In 1929, the U.S Army took possession of the
building. During the ensuing decade, the floor tiles, ceilings, and wooden
stairways were removed and replaced with reinforced concrete. In November 1978
the U.S. General Services Administration transferred the building to the
Government of Puerto Rico through the Historic Surplus Properties Program. The
building was rehabilitated during the early 1990s and presently houses the
Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. Designated a National Historic Landmark in
2013, the Beneficencia Building is a contributing resource to the Old San Juan
National Historic Landmark District.

The Beneficencia Building (Asilo de Beneficencia) was the first large-scale building constructed in the Ballajá Quarter of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Initially proposed in 1838, construction began in 1841 to provide a general establishment for public welfare. In November 1978 the U.S. General Services Administration transferred the building to the Government of Puerto Rico through the Historic Surplus Properties Program. The building was rehabilitated during the early 1990s and presently houses the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. 

Beneficencia Building

The
Ballaja Infantry Barracks Building (El Cuartel de Ballaja) in San Juan, Puerto
Rico was constructed between 1854 and 1864 by the Spanish Corps of Military
Engineers in the Ballajá Quarter of Old San Juan on 6 urban blocks of land
expropriated from the Dominican Friars. The building is one of Spain’s most
impressive buildings in the New World; it stands as the last example of large-scale
military architecture by the Spanish Monarchy in the Americas. Used until 1898
as infantry barracks and permanent housing for approximately 2,000 soldiers and
officers with their families, the building included housing, storage, kitchens,
dining rooms, jail cells, and stables for horses. After Spain’s defeat in the
Spanish-American War of 1898, the U.S. Government used the building to house the
Army Infantry. During World War II, the Barracks became an annex of Fort Brooke’s
military hospital. In 1944, it was renamed Rodriguez General Hospital in honor
of Major Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas. The building was transferred to the
Government of Puerto Rico in 1976 through the Historic Surplus Properties
Program. Restoration planning for the Barracks began in 1986 and the work was
completed in 1993. An impressive building with a large interior courtyard, it
now houses various small museums including the El Museo de las Américas, a
music school, a dance school, a library, a restaurant, and an arts cinema.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2013, the Ballaja Barracks is a
contributing resource to the Old San Juan National Historic Landmark District.

The Ballaja Infantry Barracks Building (El Cuartel de Ballaja) in San Juan, Puerto Rico was constructed between 1854 and 1864 by the Spanish Corps of Military Engineers in the Ballajá Quarter of Old San Juan. The building is one of Spain’s most impressive buildings in the New World; it stands as the last example of large-scale military architecture by the Spanish Monarchy in the Americas. The building was transferred to the Government of Puerto Rico in 1976 through the Historic Surplus Properties Program. Restoration planning for the Barracks began in 1986 and the work was completed in 1993. 

National Park Service Tour of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

La Fortaleza

Introduction

Images

Sources

Additional Information