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| When Ponce de Leon and Christopher Columbus found Puerto Rico
in 1493, Ponce named the island for his patron saint, San Juan. After the Spaniards
realized there was no gold in Caparra, the island's first settlement, Ponce moved the city
to the peninsula where he named it Puerto Rico for "rich port." Eventually the city and island switched names and San Juan became a stronghold against European invaders. Massive walls, two forts, a cathedral, convent and homes were built to settle the city in hopes of prosperity. After the Spanish-American War in the late 19th century, Puerto Rico became property of the U.S. due to the Treaty of Paris in 1899. Until 1952 when Puerto Rico was made a free associated state under the U.S. flag with its own constitution and government, the island remained a U.S. commonwealth. Today the people of Puerto Rico are working to restore the historic significance of the island and its heritage. |
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