Casa Blanca (San Juan)

Casa Blanca is a historic house museum situated in Old San Juan, the historic colonial district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

History

Constructed in 1521, Casa Blanca served as the initial fortification for the

San Juan islet and was intended to be the residence of Juan Ponce de León and his family. However, de León passed away during an expedition to Florida

without ever residing in the house. Subsequently, it sheltered his descendants until the mid-18th century.

Originally constructed of wood, Casa Blanca was rebuilt in stone and masonry after a fire. During conflicts with the

caciques (chieftains) facilitated a resolution to a brief uprising^[1]^{[citation needed}

].

When the capital transitioned to the San Juan Islet in 1521, Casa Blanca became the first governor's residence in Puerto Rico. Despite undergoing numerous refurbishments over five centuries, it remained the governors' residence until the mid-1700s when

St. Catherine of Siena. Subsequently, Casa Blanca housed various military and chivalry organizations before gradually falling into disuse post-World War II. It was rejuvenated by the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture, and its gardens, planted by General Brooks (the first American Military governor of the island in the 20th century), were preserved.^[1]

In 1967, Casa Blanca was transferred to the Puerto Rican government and designated a historical monument. It was documented in the

Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.^[2]

References

This article incorporates public domain material from Historic American Buildings Survey. National Park Service.

^ ^a ^b Old Walls, New Spirit. The New York Times. November 11, 2007
^ Museo de Casa Blanca Archived March 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Institute of Puerto Rican Culture

External links

Photos, video, and museum information
A walking tour including Casa Blanca Archived 2009-02-23 at the Wayback Machine

18°27′59″N 66°07′12″W / 18.46639°N 66.12000°W / 18.46639; -66.12000

[NY-1] Old Walls, New Spirit. The New York Times. November 11, 2007

[2] Museo de Casa Blanca Archived March 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Institute of Puerto Rican Culture

[1]

[2]

History

See also

References

External links