Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico

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Coordinates: 18°28′5″N 66°6′41″W / 18.46806°N 66.11139°W / 18.46806; -66.11139
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico
Beaux Arts
Websiteantiguocasinopr.com
Part ofOld San Juan Historic District
NRHP reference No.77001554[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 22, 1977

The Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico, located at

Beaux Arts architecture style building dating from 1917. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.[1][2]

History

Detail of roof

The Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico was the brainchild of a group of citizens, known as the Asociación del Casino de Puerto Rico, who requested then San Juan mayor Francisco del Valle Atiles a place to establish a new social club.[3] The building was designed by Montilla & Ferrer and construction began under the supervision of the Del Valle Zeno brothers' firm.[4] Construction for the new building started in 1913, with a budget of $80,000. Lack of funds caused the construction to shut down. Construction restarted in 1914, with the Jiménez y Benítez engineering handling the building work. In 1915, construction was halted once again, It was restarted a year later with sculptor José Albrizzio designing the interior. The Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico was finally inaugurated on July 24, 1917.

During World War II, the building was used as an officers' club by the United States Army. Shortly after the end of the war, in 1946 the building was transferred to the government of Puerto Rico, who turned it into the Escuela Libre de Música Ernesto Ramos Antonini.[5]

By 1955, the school was relocated and the building became the first headquarters of the

government agency of Puerto Rico. The Convention District Authority manages a number of facilities in the Convention Center District, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, including the Puerto Rico Convention Center
.

Features

Designed in a Beaux Arts style, the Antiguo Casino features gardens, balconies, moldings, white marble floors, and a grand central staircase. One of its distinguished features is the ballroom's twelve-foot chandelier. The building is also known for its use of mirrors in the interior decoration.[7]

The building has become a popular venue for

quinceañeras
and corporate events.

Gallery

  • Image from 1921
    Image from 1921
  • Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico at night
    Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico at night
  • Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico in 2013
    Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico in 2013
  • Casino at end of nearby street
    Casino at end of nearby street

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ A. Tarr (January 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico". National Park Service. and accompanying seven photos
  3. ^ "Artes: Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "La Escuela Libre de Música de San Juan P.R." April 28, 2012.
  6. ^ "Gobierno.pr". ICP P.R. Government.
  7. ^ "PR Convention | Antiguo Casino". Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-02-29.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antiguo_Casino_de_Puerto_Rico&oldid=1209421645"