National Historic Landmark

Caparra

Guaynabo, San Juan County, Puerto Rico
Listed
February 28, 1984
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
84003155

About this property

Caparra is an archaeological site containing the remains of Caparra, the first European settlement in the main island of Puerto Rico. Located in the municipality of Guaynabo on the grounds of the Museo y Parque Histórico Ruinas de Caparra (Original Residence of Juan Ponce de León), it is centered around the foundations of the residence of Juan Ponce de León, the first European conquistador and governor of Puerto Rico, who established the settlement as the capital of Puerto Rico in 1508. It is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, as it represents the oldest known European settlement in the United States. Caparra, also known by its settlers as Ciudad de Puerto Rico ("City of Rich Port"), was founded in the southern side of San Juan Bay. However, the settlement was overwhelmed with health, defense, logistical, and communication difficulties due to its low-lying, swampy terrain. In 1521, to facilite the development of the settlement, it was reestablished on the nearby San Juan Islet in the northern side of San Juan Bay under the name of San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico (Saint John Baptist of Rich Port), present day the Old San Juan historic quarter in the capital municipality of San Juan.

Location

Guaynabo, San Juan County, Puerto Rico

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTHISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINAL
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Caparra

This page lists Caparra. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Questions about this property

When was Caparra listed on the National Register?

Caparra was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Caparra?

Caparra is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Caparra a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Caparra has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Caparra?

The period of significance for Caparra is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Caparra?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Caparra will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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