Faro de Guanica
National Register of Historic Places

Faro de Guanica

Guanica, Guanica County, Puerto Rico
Listed
March 27, 1977
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
77001549

About this property

Guánica Light (Spanish: Faro de Guánica) was a historic lighthouse located in the municipality of Guánica, Puerto Rico, in the Guánica State Forest. It was first lit in 1893 and deactivated in 1950. The light marked the entrance to Guánica Bay and bridged the gap between Los Morrillos Light and Caja de Muertos Light. On July 25, 1898, lighthouse keeper Robustiano Rivera spotted the convoy of the American forces that initiated the landing offensive of the Puerto Rican Campaign during the Spanish–American War. He immediately gave the alert to the residents of Guánica and marched to Yauco where he broke the news of the invading forces to the city's mayor. By 2009, the lighthouse was practically in ruins, though some parts of its unique architectural elements were still visible. It was listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1981, and on the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2000. A series of earthquakes that occurred in January 2020 in Puerto Rico further damaged the Guánica lighthouse.

Location

Guanica, Guanica County, Puerto Rico
17.95401, -66.90284

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
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

James Garfield Graded School
Industrial
1.4 mi
Hacienda Santa Rita
Early Republic
4 mi
Public Health Unit at Yauco
Industrial
6.5 mi
Logia Masonica Hijos de la Luz
Industrial
6.6 mi
Filardi House
Industrial
6.7 mi

Nearby Battles

US Landing at Guánica (Puerto Rico 1898)
1898Frontier
1.2 mi
Battle of Guanica — Puerto Rico
1898Modern
1.3 mi
Battle of Guanica (Puerto Rico 1898)
1898Frontier
1.4 mi
Landing at Guanica
1898Frontier
1.5 mi
Battle of Guanica Bay (Naval Support)
1898Frontier
1.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Faro de Guanica listed on the National Register?

Faro de Guanica was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 27, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Faro de Guanica?

Faro de Guanica is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Faro de Guanica?

The period of significance for Faro de Guanica is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1893.

Can I research the history near Faro de Guanica?

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