Fortín San Juan de la Cruz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fortín San Juan de la Cruz(El Cañuelo) |
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Aerial view (2010)
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| Location | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Official name: Fortín San Juan de la Cruz | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | vi |
| Designated | 1983 (7th session) |
| Part of | La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico |
| Reference no. | 266 |
| Region | North America and West Indies |
| Official name: El Cañuelo | |
| Designated | October 15, 1966 |
| Part of | San Juan National Historic Site |
| Reference no. | 66000930 |
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Fortín San Juan de la Cruz (which means Fort Saint John of the Cross), often called El Cañuelo, is a historic fort in Puerto Rico. It sits on Isla de Cabras (Goat Island) at the western entrance to San Juan Bay. This square fort has strong sandstone walls that were built way back in the 1630s. Even though the U.S. Navy attacked it in 1898, the fort survived! Today, El Cañuelo is part of the San Juan National Historic Site. This site is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also on the National Register of Historic Places. While you can't go inside the fort, you can still see its impressive exterior.
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A Look Back in Time
The very first fort on this spot was made of wood in the late 1500s. Sadly, it burned down in 1625 during a Dutch attack. But the Spaniards didn't give up! They replaced it with a much stronger stone fort between 1630 and 1660.
Protecting San Juan Bay
El Cañuelo was the smallest fort in the system that defended the harbor. Its cannons, along with those from Castillo San Felipe del Morro (a much larger fort), created a powerful crossfire. This crossfire helped protect the main entrance to San Juan Bay. The fort also guarded the mouth of the Bayamón River nearby. There's a story that a huge chain once stretched from El Morro to El Cañuelo. This chain could be pulled across the bay entrance during attacks to block enemy ships.
The 1898 Bombardment
On May 12, 1898, during the Spanish–American War, the United States Navy attacked El Cañuelo. This was part of their larger bombardment of San Juan. Interestingly, Spanish records from that time don't show any guns or soldiers stationed at El Cañuelo during the attack.
What's Special About It?
This square fort is about 80 feet (24 meters) on each side. It has one garita, which is a small, round sentry box where a guard would stand. The fort covers an area of about 3.4 acres (13,760 square meters). Originally, El Cañuelo Island was a rocky piece of land completely surrounded by water. You could only reach it by boat. But sometime after 1986, the nearby Isla de Cabras was made bigger, connecting it to the fort.
Visiting the Area
A road called Puerto Rico Highway 870 now connects Isla de Cabras to the main island. This road passes right by the fort. From the site, you can enjoy amazing views of Boca Vieja Cove to the west and San Juan Bay to the east. Remember, the fort itself is closed to visitors, but you are welcome to walk around its walls. There's also a small recreation area with picnic tables nearby, perfect for a family outing.
See also
In Spanish: Fortín San Juan de la Cruz para niños
