Ballajá Barracks

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Ballajá Barracks (or Cuartel de Ballajá in Spanish) is a military barracks located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was built from 1854 to 1864 for the Spanish troops established on the island and their families.

Courtyard and Ballajá Barracks, 2018

Construction[]

The Ballajá Barracks were built by the Spanish militia from 1854 to 1864. To build it, six blocks from the Ballajá subbarrio (in Old San Juan) were expropriated from the Dominican Order and demolished in 1853. Later when Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain to the United States, the United States paid the Catholic church for this property, among others.[1] The three-story structure was completed in 1864, occupying an area of 7,700 square meters (83,000 sq ft). It could accommodate over 1,000 citizens, originally Spanish soldiers and their families. Its vast interior patio is one of the best examples of 19th-century Spanish architecture.[2]

Other than the housing facilities, the barracks had storage rooms, kitchens, mess halls, dungeons, and horse stables.

Spanish–American War[]

The barracks were heavily used during the Spanish–American War near the end of the 19th century. On May 12, 1898, during the American bombing of San Juan, the fleet led by Admiral William T. Sampson damaged the northeast side of the barracks.[3]

After the war ended, and with the change of sovereignty, the barracks became the quarters for the United States Army until 1939.[4][5]

World War II[]

During World War II, the barracks were used as a military hospital, under the name of Army General Hospital of Fort Brooke. On August 31, 1944, the United States Department of War issued General Order No. 71 which renamed the hospital as Rodriguez (161st) General Hospital, in honor of Major Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas.

Ownership[]

Initially, when Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain to the United States, the United States paid the Catholic church for this property, among others.[6] Ownership of the property, claimed by the Catholic Church, was not a straightforward matter and had to be resolved by the Supreme Court.[7][8][9]

The Government of Puerto Rico acquired the building in 1976 through a transfer from the Government of the United States with the commitment of restoring it and using it for cultural, educative, and touristic purposes. In 1986, a reform plan for the San Juan Historic Zone was sketched and the building was restored from 1990 to 1993.

Today[]

Today, the Ballajá Barracks houses several educational and cultural organizations, namely the on the second floor of the building since 1992. On the first floor, there are music and dance schools and a library, among other things.

The Museo de Las Américas has three permanent collections: African Heritage, the Indian in America, and Popular Arts in America.

Gallery[]

  • Interior patio of the Ballajá Barracks

  • Ballajá Barracks in Old San Juan at night

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ United States. Congress (1909). United States Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 35-PA6. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  2. ^ Serial set (no.4001-4500). United States Congressional serial set (in Spanish). 1900. p. 294. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  3. ^ "San Juan's Bombardment". The Sun. May 31, 1898. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  4. ^ Puerto Rico (1905). Register for 1903, 1905. Register for 1903, 1905 (in Danish). p. 44. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  5. ^ Puerto Rico. Secretary's Office (1901). Register of Porto Rico. Office of the Secretary. p. 29. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  6. ^ United States. Congress (1909). United States Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 35-PA6. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  7. ^ Annual Report. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1909. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  8. ^ Puerto Rico. Supreme Court (1906). Reports of Cases Adjudged in the Supreme Court of Porto Rico. Bureau of Supplies, Printing and Transportation. p. 496. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  9. ^ Elihu Root Collection of United States Documents: Ser. A.-F. Elihu Root Collection of United States Documents: Ser. A.-F. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1907. p. 52. Retrieved 2021-05-05.

External links[]

Coordinates: 18°27′57″N 66°07′10″W / 18.46583°N 66.11944°W / 18.46583; -66.11944

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