Old San Juan Historic Site – Puerto Rico
Walking through the San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico feels like stepping into four centuries of Atlantic world history.
Perched above the waters of San Juan Bay, these massive stone fortifications stand as reminders of an era when empires fought to control the New World. Spain poured enormous resources into protecting this small island outpost, transforming it into one of the most heavily fortified cities in the Western Hemisphere.
El Morro once guarded the harbor entrance against approaching ships. From its ramparts, soldiers watched the horizon for sails ready to defend San Juan from pirates and rival European powers.
These walls have witnessed centuries of change from colonial rule, naval battles and shifting nations. In recognition of their extraordinary historical and architectural significance, the fortifications were designated a national historic site in 1949, under President Harry S Truman. This ensured their preservation for future generations.
Walking through this site, with its sweeping overlooks, it was clear how Puerto Rico became such a strategic crossroads between Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. This site is not just a monument to military power, but a window into global history and the identity of this remarkable island.
Read More From Nancy
Indiana Dunes National Park – Indiana
On our cross-country family road trip in 1995, we stopped at the Indiana Dunes National Park. The massive sand dunes stretch along the southern shore of Lake Michigan and they are interwoven with wetlands and beaches. The dunes were formed over thousands of years as glaciers retreated in the wind and water shaped the sand into ridges […]
Hamilton Grange National Memorial – New York
For those who have seen the musical Hamilton, do you remember the moment when the family “moves uptown? In the late 18th century, uptown meant leaving the crowded streets of lower Manhattan for open farmland to the north. This are would later become Harlem. That is where Alexander Hamilton built his country retreat, a house known […]
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Historical Park – Pennsylvania
I visited the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Historical Park a few years ago. Tucked along a narrow street in Philadelphia’s Society Hill neighborhood is a house that reveals the story of a man whose ideals helped shape two nations. Thaddeus Kosciuszko was a Polish-born military engineer and idealist who came to America during the Revolutionary War. He […]
