Ricardo Alegría - La Habana, Cuba
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N 23° 08.227 W 082° 20.928
17Q E 361904 N 2559337
A plaque honoring Ricardo Alegría is attached to the wall of the Galeria Carmen Montilla located on Calle Oficios in front of the basilica de San Francisco de Asis in Old Havana, Cuba.
Waymark Code: WMV721
Location: Cuba
Date Posted: 03/06/2017
Views: 1
Ricardo E. Alegría Gallardo (April 14, 1921 – July 7, 2011) was a Puerto Rican scholar, cultural anthropologist and archeologist known as the "father of modern Puerto Rican archaeology"
The city of Havana recognized his influence in the project to remodel the city's historical district (similar to Alegría's work in Old San Juan) by honoring him with a plaque, which, while he was alive, was the only monument honoring a living Puerto Rican in the entire city.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton presented Alegría with the "Charles Frankel Prize" for his contributions in the field of archaeology. In 1996, he was awarded the "James Smithson Bicentennial Medal". In 2001, Alegría received from the hands of Nancy Morejon "The Haydee Santamaria Medal" in Havana, Cuba. In 2002, Alegría received the "Luis Muñoz Marín Medal" in recognition of his life achievements from Puerto Rican Governor Sila Calderón. Puerto Rican artist Lorenzo Homar honored Alegría by making an artistic graphic poster of him.
Alegría also received recognition from cultural and architectural organizations in Peru, Venezuela, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, where he also received an honorary doctorate.
The plaque reads:
"Al Doctor Ricardo Alegría: Destacado investigador y humanista, que logró con la restauración del Viejo San Juan, perpetuar los signos de identidad y la cultura del pueblo puertorriqueño 28-1-2000"
Translation:
"To Dr. Ricardo Alegría: Outstanding researcher and humanist, who achieved with the restoration of Old San Juan, perpetuates the signs of identity and the culture of the Puerto Rican people 28-1-2000"
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