San Juan

San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico, and is known as “the walled city.”   The natural beauty of Puerto Rico did not go unnoticed by Christopher Columbus.  In his second voyage to the Americas in 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered the island he named San Juan Bautista.

San Juan quickly became the most important Spanish military outpost in the Caribbean. In 1508 the Spanish government appointed Juan Ponce De Leon the first governor of the island.  Juan Ponce de Leon originally founded the city of Caparra in the west of the current metropolitan area.

Spain built the forts San Felipe del Morro and San Cristobal as a way to defend the island from attacks of conquest by the British and Dutch soldiers.  Both buildings are now tourist attractions.  La Garita, a sentry box at Fort San Felipe del Morro (El Morro Castle) has come to symbolize Puerto Rico and Old San Juan.

Over the centuries the military force of Puerto Rico helped it to become an economic force.   Puerto Rico became the only island in the Caribbean that created industry and trade from its agricultural production.

In 1898, Puerto Rico became the spoils of war for the United States of America during the Spanish-American War.  Since then, Puerto Rico has been under the control of the United States.  In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted United States citizenship when the island became an official territory of the United States.  The U.S. President appointed the governors of Puerto Rico.

In 1947, the first national elections were held, and the first Puerto Rican was elected governor in 1952.

Today, Puerto Rico enjoys one of the highest standards of living in Latin America.

Old San Juan was built as a military site of the Spanish naval forces. The fortresses and the walls of Old San Juan are among the best preserved in the hemisphere.  The area covers seven square blocks of narrow streets paved in cobblestone.  The streets are lined with old colonial houses with balconies and patios.  Old San Juan is full of houses, old churches and squares that represent the most popular of Caribbean architecture.

The name of the city of San Juan has suffered through a time of remarkable change.  With the arrival of the Spaniards to the country on November 19, 1493, Admiral Christopher Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista. Years later the conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon, during the exploration of the north coast, discovered a large bay which he described as “Puerto Rico.”  Over time the names were exchanged; the island became known as Puerto Rico, and the bay, the port and city became known as San Juan.