It
is the greatest of the Military Forts constructed
by the Spaniards in Puerto Rico and one of the
greatest in America. It is located in an extension
of 27 land cords. Its document collection includes
more than 5,000 maps, old planes and 10,000
historical photographies. The Fort had a Square
called “Plaza de Armas”, wich served
as the center of activities for the Castle garrison.
The Castle had a extensive tunnel system, designed
to move soldiers and cannons during the battles.
Also were used like mined galleries, in which
they stored gun powder within the niches, to
operate them and to avoid that the enemy used
them. The three flags that wave on the castle,
are the American, the Puerto Rican, and the
old Spanish Military flag. The entrance cost
is $3.00 for people 18+ ; $1.00 for children
between 13 to 17 years and 62+ and children
12- years enter free.
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“White
House”
A strong house, constructed for Juan Ponce de
León, but never got it to live because
they hurt it in Florida and die in Cuba. Juana
was the daughter of Ponce de León, who
married with García Troche.
The shield that is in the entrance of the house
has lions and trails, this is in representation
of the union of both last names. The first construction
rises towards 1521, was of wood and was destroyed
shortly after, due to a fire. In 1523, García
Troche also begins the construction of a building
in rubblework and stone, that not only has to
serve from defense to the city against possible
attacks of the Caribbean Indians, but as she
calls to account of the fmaily of the conqueror,
Juan Ponce de León II, who was son of
Juana and García Troche, assumed the
transitory government position of the Island
in 1579, being therefore the first Puerto Rican
in occupying a control position in the country.
In 1779, the descendants of Ponce de León
sold the White House to the Spanish Military
Government. The residence was inhabited by the
military enginneers who participated in the
construction of fortifications. |
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In
the year 1898, when the invasion of the North
Americans troops occurred, at the occupation
of Puerto Rico by the United States, all the
Spanish Army properties became property of the
North Army; among them, the White House. Soon
the house became the official residence of the
Commander of the Armed Focus of the outstanding
United States in the country. This new functioning
of the house brought arquitectonic modifications.
In 1939, Colonel John Wright, resident of the
house, and known by his historical affiliations,
reconstructed the White House with funds from
W.P.A.
This reform includes the modification of the
ceilings, as the suppression of bricks of a
great concrete tenace leaned to façade
te west, as well a balcony full of blinds and
blausters in the interior backyard façade.
In 1967, the army of the United States unocuppied
officially all the historical buildings used
in the City of San Juan and gave back them to
the island of
Puerto Rico. |
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