National Register of Historic Places

Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce

Ponce, Ponce County, Puerto Rico
Listed
January 5, 1984
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
84003149

About this property

The Panteón Nacional Román Baldorioty de Castro (English: Román Baldorioty de Castro National Pantheon) is a tract of land in Barrio Segundo of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, originally designed as the city's cemetery, but later converted into what has come to be a famous burial place. Established in 1842, it is Puerto Rico's first (and only) national pantheon. It is the only cemetery dedicated as a museum in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Prior to being dedicated as a Panteón Nacional, it was known as Cementerio Viejo or as Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce, and is listed under that name on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The Pantheon is named after Román Baldorioty de Castro, a prolific Puerto Rican politician, and firm believer of Puerto Rican autonomy and independence. His remains are located here. The Pantheon also houses a small museum about the history of autonomism in the Island, and it is currently used both as a park and a venue for the expression of culture and the arts. It is called the Museo del Autonomismo Puertorriqueño. Prior to being turned into a National Pantheon in 1991, it was known as Antiguo Cementerio de Ponce (Ponce's Old Cemetery), to differentiate it from the newer (though now also over 100 years old) Cementerio Civil de Ponce (Ponce Civil Cemetery). Built in 1842, after the design of Antonio Torruella, the cemetery was enlarged in 1864, following the design of Nieto Blajol Iglesia. It closed in 1918.

Location

Ponce, Ponce County, Puerto Rico
18.02123, -66.62117

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
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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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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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
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Nearby Historic Sites

Albergue Caritativo Tricoche
Industrial
0.4 mi
Antiguo Hospital Militar Espanol de Ponce
Industrial
0.4 mi
Subira House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Godreau, Miguel C., Casa
Industrial
0.5 mi
Villaronga House
Industrial
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Puerto Rico Saladoid-Ostionoid Conflict
800Pre-Columbian
0.8 mi
Battle of Ponce — Puerto Rico
1898Modern
0.8 mi
US Landing at Ponce (Puerto Rico 1898)
1898Frontier
0.8 mi
Occupation of Ponce
1898Frontier
1.8 mi
Battle of Asomante — Puerto Rico
1898Modern
8.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce listed on the National Register?

Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 5, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce?

Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce?

The period of significance for Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce is recorded as the listed era.

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