El Morro Fort Old San Juan - San Jaun Puerto Rico
Posted by: 
kJfishman
N 18° 28.235 W 066° 07.426
19Q E 803770 N 2044667
El Morro Fort Old San Juan - San Juan
Waymark Code: WMPW50
Location: Puerto Rico
Date Posted: 10/28/2015
Views: 12
El Morro Fort Old San Juan has a long and rich history. Starting in 1595 when Sir Francis Drake unsuccessfully attacked San Juan.
When it was first constructed back in 1539 El Morro was just a simple tower, the layout that you see today was designed several years later in 1587 by engineers Juan de Tejada and Juan Bautista Antonelli based on the established Spanish military fortification design principles of that time period.
From its very beginnings El Morro Fort has seen its fair share of action:
1595, Sir Francis Drake fails in his attempt to attack El Morro. The gunners of El Morro thwarted Drake with their cannons and a metal chain stretching across the entrance to the bay.
1598, the Duke of Cumberland battled his way into El Morro not my sea but by land and occupied the fort for 6 months. Illness to his men forced the Duke to give up his temporary residence in El Morro and the fort was again returned to the Spaniards.
1625, The Dutch attacked San Juan, but El Morro resisted under the leadership of Spanish Governor De Haro and Captain and the help of the local Puerto Rico militia.
1630, the construction of the city walls started and were completed around 1678. These are the same walls that you will see today as you tour Old San Juan
1797, the British with several thousand men invaded Puerto Rico and once again attempt to take San Juan. Once again El Morro and the Spanish were able to defeat their attackers. The battle of 1797 was one of the largest in Puerto Rico’s history and is reenacted every year on the grounds of El Morro and throughout the city of San Juan.
1898, El Morro fought its final battle when the United States Navy bombarded the fort during the Spanish – American War. The fort suffered a lot of damage from the shelling and the war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Under the new ownership of the United States the damage to El Morro was repaired and the lighthouse that you see today was built.
1942, as part of the USA’s Second World War preparations El Morro was fortified with a concrete artillery observation posts and an underground bunker
Today this World Heritage Site is MUST SEE for visitors to San Juan.
Site Description: Museum
Date of Pirate Activity (Estimated): 1539
Reference Web-link or Book Title: http://www.discoveringpuertorico.com/el-morro-fort-old-san-juan/
Site Admission (If needed): Adults $3 ($5 for combined forts El Morro and San Cristobel), Children under 15 Free Tel: 787-729-6777
Hours Available (If needed):
7 days/week from 9:00am – 6:00pm. The fort is Closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Additional Information (optional):
http://www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm
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