Cuartel de Ballaja
Cuartel de Ballaja
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Located in front of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the Cuartel de Ballaja was built from 1854 to 1864 in order to house the Spanish and Puerto Rican regiments in Old San Juan. After the 1898 invasion by the US Army, the US infantry occupied the Cuartel de Ballaja until 1936. During the Second World War, this structure became a hospital, and in 1976 the Puerto Rican government bought the building. Eventually, this beautiful structure was abandoned and decayed quickly. In 1992, as part of the commemoration of the 5th Centenary of the exchange between Europeans and the native peoples of the Americas, Ricardo Alegria--a famed Puerto Rican archaeologist-- proposed to remodel the Cuartel de Ballaja and create a museum dedicated to the Americas. Nowadays, the Cuartel de Ballaja is perfectly functional and houses the following: a dance school, a music school, the Museo de las Americas, the Puerto Rico Academy of the Spanish Language, and the State Office of Historic Conservation.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Sylvia DrSoul Fernandez
San Juan, Puerto Rico12,271 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
This weekend we celebrate San Sebastián Street parties in Old San Juan and Ballaja has more than 30 artisans and there are many more around the Old San Juan area especially today and tomorrow for these parties! They also have live music and typical food and drinks all over Old Sam Juan! This area has a museum but I’m not sure if it opens this weekend because of the huge crowds for the parties. Go and enjoy!
Written 18 January 2020
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