Aerial view of El Morro. Image courtesy of USAF 1LT Fernandez.

Fort San Felipe del Morro —or El Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Spanish— is a sixteenth-century citadel that lies on the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, Puerto Rico. For many years, it guarded the entrance to San Juan bay, and defended the city from seaborne enemies. El Morro, which means "promontory." It is part of San Juan National Historic Site and was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1983. Fort San Felipe del Morro This work is copyrighted, and used with permission. ... Fort San Felipe del Morro This work is copyrighted, and used with permission. ... This article is about a type of fortification. ... San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico. ... San Juan National Historic Site in San Juan, Puerto Rico includes colonial-era forts, bastions, powder houses, and three fourths of the old city wall. ... World Heritage Site #86: Memphis and its Necropolis, including the Pyramids of Giza (Egypt). ... This law-related article does not cite its references or sources. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Today, El Morro is one of Puerto Rico's main tourist attractions and museums, displaying artifacts that Spaniards, Indians and Africans of that time used. Other exhibits display ship models as well as timelines and historical narratives. Tourists and locals enjoy flying kites in the ocean wind on the acres of grass surrounding the castle. Over two million visitors a year explore these windswept ramparts and pageways. Prisoner-of-war model at the Rosenborg Slot in Copenhagen. ...

On the other side of the entrance of the bay, a smaller fort known as "El Cañuelo" supported Fort San Felipe del Morro in defending the entrance to San Juan's bay. During the assault of the city by Francis Drake in 1597, a chain was drawn across the entrance to the bay. El Cañuelo Guerita Fortín San Juan de la Cruz (Fort Saint John of the Cross), better known as el Cañuelo, is located on Isla de Cabras, Puerto Rico, at 18°27′59″ N 66°08′11″ W. It is part of San Juan National Historic Site. ... San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico. ...

Architecture and construction history

Fort San Felipe del Morro - Land Entrance

The core structures of El Morro were completed in a forty year timespan in the 16th Century, but new structures, embellishments, and restorations were added to the complex over the entire span of its 400 year history.Protected San Juan from enemies. Land View from El Morro Castle - San Juan, Puerto Rico File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Land View from El Morro Castle - San Juan, Puerto Rico File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

The fort was begun in 1540 by Spanish settlers to defend the port of San Juan. Its architecture mirrors the style of that century, as evidenced by similar military structures in Cuba, St. Augustine, Florida, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and other South American sites largely occupied by the Spanish in the Age of Exploration. The initial phase of construction was completed in 1589. The structure was named in Honor of King Phillip II of Spain. Events January 6 - King Henry VIII of England marries Anne of Cleves, his fourth Queen consort. ... Five flags have flown over St. ... State nickname: Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville (largest metropolitan area is Miami) Governor Jeb Bush (R) Senators Bill Nelson (D) Mel Martinez (R) Official language(s) English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ... Santo Domingo from space, May 1992 Plaza Colón Santo Domingo, population 2,061,200 (2003), is the capital of the Dominican Republic. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The so-called Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century, during which European ships were traveled around the world to search for new trading routes and partners to feed burgeoning capitalism in Europe. ... Events Rebellion of the Catholic League against King Henry III of France, in revenge for his murder of Duke Henry of Guise. ... Philip II of Spain (Spanish: Felipe II) - (May 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598), the first King of Spain understood as the whole peninsula of Hispania (r. ...

View of El Morro from across San Juan bay.

Much of the extant structure, was completed in the late 18th century. This includes much of the 18 foot (5 m) thick walls; six additional levels; and the sentry posts known as garitas. The site was expanded at this time to cover over 70 acres (280,000 m²). Download high resolution version (2129x953, 377 KB)View across the bay of Fort San Felipe del Morro File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (2129x953, 377 KB)View across the bay of Fort San Felipe del Morro File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

The fort came under United States control after the 1898, the green space in front of "El Morro" was used for playing Golf by U.S. military officers. During World War II the United States military made another notable addition to the fort by adding a prominent sentry tower in the center of the main fort. This tower is the tallest point on the structure, 180 feet (55 m) above sea level, and flies both the U.S. and Puerto Rican flags. 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Golfer teeing off at the start of a hole Golf is a game where individual players or teams hit a ball into a hole using various clubs. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb. ...

In 1992 additional historic restorations were performed. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

Historical time line

Garita

1519 - Spanish settlers from Caparra found San Juan. Sentinel Station - El Morro Castle File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Sentinel Station - El Morro Castle File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Guerite at Fort de Chartres Garita at El Cañuelo A guerite is a type of sentry box. ... Events March 4 - Hernán Cortés lands in Mexico. ... San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico. ...

1539 - Construction of the first harbor defenses at El Morro and La Fortaleza authorized by King Carlos V. Events May 30 - In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal to find gold. ... La Fortaleza (or The Fortress in English) is the current residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. ... Charles (February 24, 1500 – September 21, 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor (as Charles V) from 1519-1558; he was also King of Spain from 1516_1556, officially as Charles I of Spain, although often referred to as Charles V (Carlos Quinto or Carlos V) in Spain and Latin America. ...

1587 - Engineers Juan de Tejada and Juan Bautista Antonelli lay out the main design for El Morro still seen today. 1587 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. ...

1589 - Governor Diego Menendez begins new construction at El Morro. Events Rebellion of the Catholic League against King Henry III of France, in revenge for his murder of Duke Henry of Guise. ...

1595 - Francis Drake attacks El Morro unsuccessfully by sea. Gunners from El Morro shoot a cannonball through the cabin of Drake's flagship. Events January 30 - William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is performed for the first time. ... Sir Francis Drake, c. ...

1598 - George Clifford, Duke of Cumberland, attacks from the land side, the only time El Morro was taken in battle. English forces move into the fortress, but are so weakened by dysentery that the invasion force withdraws after only six weeks. Events January 7 - Boris Godunov seizes the throne of Russia following the death of his brother-in-law, Tsar Feodor I April 13 - Edict of Nantes - Henry IV of France grants French Huguenots equal rights with Catholics. ... George Clifford (8 August 1558, Brougham Castle, Westmorland - 30 October 1605, The Savoy, Middlesex) was the third Earl of Cumberland and fourteenth Baron Clifford of Westmoreland, as well as an English naval commander and courtier in the court of Queen Elisabeth I. Son of the second Earl of Cumberland, Henry...

1625 - The Dutch under the command of Boudewijn Hendricksz attack and take San Juan from the land side. El Morro holds but the city is sacked and burned. Events March 27 - Prince Charles Stuart becomes King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland. ...

1630 - Governor Enrique Enriquez de Sotomayor begins construction of the city walls. Work continues until 1678 to encircle the city completely. Events February 22 - Native American Quadequine introduces Popcorn to English colonists. ... Events August 10 - Treaty of Nijmegen ends the Dutch War. ...

1765 - Field Marshall Alejandro O'Reilly (Alexander O'Reilly) and Royal Engineer Tomis O'Daly (Thomas O'Daly) reform the defenses of San Juan by reorganizing the garrison and making the city a "Defense of the First Order". 1765 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Alejandro OReilly (1722-1794) was the second Spanish governor of colonial Louisiana, and the first Spanish governor of the territory to exercise power. ...

El Morro's Santa Barbara battery, overlooking the entrance to San Juan Bay.

1825 - The famous Puerto Rican pirate, Roberto Cofresí was jailed and later executed within the fort's walls. Entrance to San Juan Bay - El Morro Castle File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Entrance to San Juan Bay - El Morro Castle File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1825 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... A pirate digging…perhaps to bury treasure, perhaps a grave. ... Roberto Cofresi (June 17, 1791-March 29, 1825)) born Roberto Cofresi y Ramirez de Arellano in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, is Puerto Ricos most famous pirate and is better known as El Pirata Cofresi. There are two versions as to the where Cofresis father came from. ...

1843 - First lighthouse in Puerto Rico constructed atop the castle. 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Peggys Point lighthouse in Nova Scotia, Canada An aid for navigation and pilotage at sea, a lighthouse is a tower building or framework sending out light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire. ...

1898 - On 12 May, US Navy warships shell El Morro in a day-long bombardment, damaging the tip of the main battery. Six months later, Puerto Rico becomes US territory by terms of the Treaty of Paris which ends the Spanish-American War. 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The Treaty of Paris of 1898, signed on December 10, 1898, ended the Spanish-American War. ... The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in the Caribbean and Pacific. ...

1908 - Present lighthouse seen atop El Morro built by US Navy. 1908 (MCMVIII) is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

1942 - Still an active military post when World War I breaks out, concrete artillery observation posts and an underground bunker are added to El Morro. This article is about the year. ... World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machine guns, and poison gas. ...

1949 - San Juan National Historic Site is established. 1949 (MCMXLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday. ... San Juan National Historic Site in San Juan, Puerto Rico includes colonial-era forts, bastions, powder houses, and three fourths of the old city wall. ...

1961 - The US Army moves out of the forts of Old San Juan, and they become the jurisdiction of the United States National Park Service, to be preserved solely as museums. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ...

1983 - San Juan National Historic Site declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... San Juan National Historic Site in San Juan, Puerto Rico includes colonial-era forts, bastions, powder houses, and three fourths of the old city wall. ...

1992 - El Morro's grounds are returned to their historic 18th century appearance as part of Quincentennial restoration when modern roadways and parking lots are removed. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

There is also another famous castle named "El Morro", this one in Havana, Cuba. Havana (Spanish: San Cristóbal de La Habana; UN/LOCODE: Habana (CU HAV)) is the capital of Cuba and, with a population of 2. ...

El Morro's sister castle, Fort San Cristóbal, lies about 5 minutes driving distance to the east. The Morro Castle is visible from most airplanes that land at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in nearby Carolina. Fort San Cristóbal is a Spanish fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ... Fixed-wing aircraft is a term used to refer to what are more commonly known as aeroplanes in Commonwealth English (excluding Canada) or airplanes in North American English. ... Executive Air dba American Eagle ATR-72 and American Airlines aircraft at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in April 2001 Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico, is the islands main international gateway, and its main connection to the mainland United States. ... Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, a short distance from San Juan. ...

External link

• National Park Service - El Morro Historic Site
• Some photos of El Morro

Geographical Coordinates: 18° 28′16″N, 66° 7′27″W