Fort San Felipe del Morro

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Coordinates: 18°28′16″N, 66°7′27″W

Fort San Felipe del Morro —or El Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Spanish— is a sixteenth-century citadel which lies on the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Named in honor of King Philip II of Spain, the fort, also referred to as "El Morro" or "promontory", was designed to guard the entrance to San Juan bay, and defend the city of San Juan from seaborne enemies.

In 1983, the fort was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations and is part of San Juan National Historic Site. Over two million visitors a year explore the windswept ramparts and pageways making the fort one of Puerto Rico's main visitor attractions.

Facing "El Morro", on the opposite side of the bay, a smaller fort known as "El Cañuelo" complemented the fort's defense of the entrance to the bay.

Architecture and History

Begun in 1539 by Spanish settlers to defend the port of San Juan, the fort's architecture follows similar Spanish military fortification designs of the era, as evidenced from similar fortifications built by the Spanish in Cuba, St. Augustine, Florida, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and other South American locations which where occupied by the Spanish during the Age of Exploration.

The initial phase of construction which was started in 1539 was completed in 1589. However, new structures were added to the complex over the next 400 year history to the structure which is observed today. During the late 18th century, new structures where added such as the 18 foot (5 m) thick walls; six additional levels; and the sentry posts known as garitas. The site was expanded at this time to cover over 70 acres (280,000 m²).

The fort successfully repelled attacks from several foreign powers such as the English (1595 and 1598) and Dutch (1625). The fort's last active battle occurred during an assault by the United States Navy during the 1898 Spanish-American War. The war ended with the signing of Treaty of Paris in which Spain ceded ownership of the island of Puerto Rico to the United States of America. The fort became a US military post, years later the green space in front of "El Morro" became a golf courses for U.S. military officers.

During World War II the United States military made another notable addition to the fort by adding a prominent sentry tower in the center of the main fort. The tower is the tallest point on the structure standing 180 feet (55 m) above sea level. Flagpoles on the tower fly the flags of the United States, Puerto Rico and New Spain.

In 1992 additional historic restorations were performed. The fort was used to stand in for an African slave fortress in the 1996 motion picture "Amistad" by Steven Spielberg.

Historical time line

1519 - Spanish settlers from Caparra found San Juan.

1539 - Construction of the first harbor defenses at El Morro and La Fortaleza authorized by King Charles V.

1587 - Engineers Juan de Tejada and Juan Bautista Antonelli lay out the main design for El Morro still seen today.

1589 - Governor Diego Menéndez begins new construction at El Morro.

1595 - Sir Francis Drake attacks El Morro unsuccessfully by sea. Gunners from El Morro shoot a cannonball through the cabin of Drake's flagship. To impede Drake's ships from entering the bay, a metal chain was drawn across the entrance.

1598 - George Clifford, Duke of Cumberland, attacks from the land side, the only time El Morro was taken in battle. English forces move into the fortress, but are so weakened by dysentery that the invasion force withdraws after only six weeks.

1625 - The Dutch under the command of Boudewijn Hendricksz attack and take San Juan from the land side. El Morro holds but the city is sacked and burned.

1630 - Governor Enrique Enríquez de Sotomayor begins construction of the city walls. Work continues until 1678 to encircle the city completely.

1765 - Field Marshall Alejandro O'Reilly (Alexander O'Reilly) and Royal Engineer Tomás O'Daly (Thomas O'Daly) reform the defenses of San Juan by reorganizing the garrison and making the city a "Defense of the First Order".

1825 - Well known Puerto Rican pirate, Roberto Cofresí was jailed and later executed within the fort's walls.

1843 - First lighthouse in Puerto Rico constructed atop the castle.

1898 - On 12 May, US Navy warships shell El Morro in a day-long bombardment, damaging the tip of the main battery. Six months later, Puerto Rico becomes US territory by terms of the Treaty of Paris which ends the Spanish-American War.

1908 - Present lighthouse seen atop El Morro built by the United States Navy.

1942 - Still an active military post during World War II, concrete artillery observation posts and an underground bunker are added to El Morro to defend against possible German attacks.

1949 - San Juan National Historic Site is established.

1961 - The U.S. Army moves out of the forts of Old San Juan, and they become the jurisdiction of the United States National Park Service, to be preserved solely as museums.

1983 - San Juan National Historic Site declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.

1992 - El Morro's grounds are returned to their historic 18th century appearance as part of quincentennial commemoration of the discovery of Puerto Rico by Christopher Columbus when modern roadways and parking lots are removed.

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