National Register of Historic Places

Plaza Publica

Mayaguez, Mayaguez County, Puerto Rico
Listed
December 3, 1985
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
85003085

About this property

Plaza Colón is the main plaza in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. This plaza and its fountain commemorate the explorer Christopher Columbus, whose name in Spanish was Cristóbal Colón. The plaza presents the traditional urban relationship in Puerto Rico with the church, now Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Cathedral on one end of the plaza and the "Alcaldia" or Mayagüez town hall in the other. Its location was designated in 1760 close to the city founding. The plaza is paved in marble is graced by a group of lampposts in bronze that date over more than one hundred years. Each lamp is held by an oriental odalisque, including characteristic clothes, turbans, and veils. The plaza was designed after the Great Fire of 1841, approximately in 1842; years later, after being paved the plaza had a fountain in the center. The plaza has been remodeled several times including when Benjamin Cole was mayor and under the current mayor José Guillermo Rodríguez.

Location

Mayaguez, Mayaguez County, Puerto Rico
18.20372, -67.13868

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTSOCIAL HISTORY
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Plaza Publica

This page lists Plaza Publica. 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Plaza Publica report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Casa Consistorial De Mayaguez
Industrial
0 mi
Logia Adelphia
Industrial
0.1 mi
Teatro Yaguez
Industrial
0.1 mi
Fuentes, Ramirez, Residencia
Industrial
0.2 mi
La Case Solariega de Jose De Diego
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Mayaguez
1898Frontier
0.2 mi
Taino Uprising – Battle of Yagüecas 1511
1511Colonial
2.1 mi
Battle of Hormigueros (Puerto Rico)
1898Frontier
4.5 mi
Battle of Hormigueros
1898Frontier
4.5 mi
Battle of Hormigueros — Puerto Rico
1898Modern
4.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Plaza Publica listed on the National Register?

Plaza Publica was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 3, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Plaza Publica?

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

What is the period of significance for Plaza Publica?

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

Can I research the history near Plaza Publica?

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 Plaza Publica will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More historic places in Puerto Rico

Browse all historic places in Puerto Rico.

View Puerto Ricohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Puerto Rico history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Puerto Ricohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Plaza Publica will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report