|
El
Cuartel de Ballaja (The
Ballaja Infantry Barracks Building) was constructed by the Spanish army
between 1854 and 1864. The structure is one of the most
impressive constructed by Spain in the New World and it stands as the
last example of monumental military architecture by the Spanish Monarchy
in the Americas.
Located
on a lot of approximately three acres between Morovis, Beneficencia and
Norzagaray streets, y occupies six city blocks of the Ballaja community
(Barrrio Ballaja) that were expropriated and demolished in 1853.
Used
until 1898 as infantry barracks and permanent housing for aproximately
a thousand soldiers, it consisted of rooms for officers, solders and their
families, storage, kitchens, dining rooms, jail cells and stables for
horses. The ascending vaulted gothic ceilings above the main staircase
are unique in Puerto Rico
On
the 12th of May in 1898, during the bombing of
San Juan by Admiral William T. Sampson's United State of America naval
squadron, the northwest
side the Barracks were damaged. After
the change of sovereignty the Americans also used the facilities as barracks
until 1939. After that date it became the Rodríguez
Hospital .
This
important historic resource built for military purposes, has evolved with
the passage of time becoming a cultural center, rendering tribute to Puerto
Rico's rich cultural heritage.
In the future this page will include more information about the history
of Ballajá and the surrounding community known historically as
Barrio Ballajá (the Ballajá Quarter) where one can find
other important cultural spaces such as Liga
de Arte de San Juan (
the page is currently under revision),
La Escuelas de Artes Plásticas and La
Galería Nacional.
|
