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The breathtaking beauty and bounty of Puerto Rico didn't escape
Christopher Columbus' attention. He came to the Island on his
second voyage to the New World in 1493, naming the town of
Puerto Rico ("rich port") and the island San Juan; the two names
were later switched. San Juan quickly became Spain's most
important military outpost in the Caribbean. In 1508 Juan Ponce
the León became Puerto Rico's first governor.The San
Felipe del Morro (El Morro) and San Cristóbal forts were built
to defend the Island against attempted conquests by the British
and the Dutch. Remnants of
this colonial past can still be seen today throughout Old San
Juan. To learn more about San Juan, please visit
www.meetsanjuan.com.
Over the centuries, Puerto Rico's strength shifted from
military to economic, becoming the only Caribbean island where
industry and commerce exceed agricultural production.
In 1898, Puerto Rico came under U.S. control as a result of
the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans became American citizens
in 1917, and the Island was granted U.S. Territory status.
Puerto Ricans were granted partial self-government in 1947,
this enabled citizens to elect their own governor for the first
time; the Island became a U.S. Commonwealth in 1952. Today,
Puerto Rico enjoys one of the highest standards of living in
Latin America. |