Ballajá Barracks
Encyclopedia
Ballajá Barracks is a military barracks
located in San Juan
, Puerto Rico
. It was built from 1854 to 1864 for the Spanish
troops established in the island and their families.
militia from 1854 to 1864. To build it, six blocks from the Ballajá ward were expropriated from the Dominican Order
, and demolished in 1853. The three-story structure was completed in 1864, occupying an area of 7,700 square . 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.
Other than the housing facilities, the barracks had storage rooms, kitchens, mess halls, dungeon
s, and horse stables.
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.
After the war ended, and with the change of sovereignty, the barracks became the quarters for the U.S. Infantry
until 1939.
, under the name of Army General Hospital of Fort Brooke. On August 31, 1944, the War Department of the United States issued General Order No. 71 which renamed the hospital as Rodriguez (161st) General Hospital, in honor of Major Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas
.
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.
The Museo de Las Américas has three permanent collections: African Heritage, the Indian in America, and Popular Arts in America.
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
located in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. It was built from 1854 to 1864 for the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
troops established in the island and their families.
Construction
The Ballajá Barracks were built by the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
militia from 1854 to 1864. To build it, six blocks from the Ballajá ward were expropriated from the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, and demolished in 1853. The three-story structure was completed in 1864, occupying an area of 7,700 square . It could accommodate over 1,000 citizens, originally Spanish soldiers and their families. Its vast interior patio
Patio
A patio is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a residence and is typically paved. It may refer to a roofless inner courtyard of the sort found in Spanish-style dwellings or a paved area between a residence and a garden....
is one of the best examples of 19th century Spanish architecture.
Other than the housing facilities, the barracks had storage rooms, kitchens, mess halls, dungeon
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
s, and horse stables.
Spanish-American War
The barracks were heavily used during the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
near the end of the 19th century. On May 12, 1898, during the American bombing of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, the fleet led by Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
William T. Sampson
William T. Sampson
William Thomas Sampson was a United States Navy rear admiral known for his victory in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War.-Biography:...
damaged the northeast side of the barracks.
After the war ended, and with the change of sovereignty, the barracks became the quarters for the U.S. Infantry
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
until 1939.
World War II
During World War II, the barracks were used as a military hospitalMilitary hospital
Military hospital is a hospital, which is generally located on a military base and is reserved for the use of military personnel, their dependents or other authorized users....
, under the name of Army General Hospital of Fort Brooke. On August 31, 1944, the War Department of the United States issued General Order No. 71 which renamed the hospital as Rodriguez (161st) General Hospital, in honor of Major Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas
Fernando E. Rodriguez Vargas
Major Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas, DDS was an odontologist , scientist and a Major in the U.S. Army who discovered the bacteria which causes dental caries.-Early years:...
.
Government acquisition
The Government of Puerto RicoGovernment of Puerto Rico
The Government of Puerto Rico is a republican form of government subject to U.S. jurisdiction and sovereignty. Its current powers are all delegated by the United States Congress and lack full protection under the United States Constitution...
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 Museo de Las Américas, on the second floor of the building since 1992. On the first floor, there are music and dance schools, 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.