Fortín de San Gerónimo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fortín de San Gerónimo de Boquerón
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Fort San Gerónimo picture taken from Caribe Hilton Hotel
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 Location in Puerto Rico
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| Location | Puerta de Tierra barrio San Juan, Puerto Rico |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1791 |
| Architect | Juan Francisco Mestre (1791 reconstruction) |
| Part of | Línea Avanzada (ID97001136) |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004199 |
| Added to NRHP | October 11, 1983 |
The Fortín de San Gerónimo de Boquerón is a small fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It sits at the entrance of the Condado Lagoon, facing the historic area of Miramar.
This fort was built in the 1700s. It replaced an older defense spot called El Boquerón. That first battery helped defend San Juan from attacks by famous figures like Sir Francis Drake in 1595. It also faced George Clifford in 1598, who destroyed it. San Gerónimo became a key part of San Juan's first line of defense. It worked with other forts like Fortín San Antonio and Escambrón Fort. The main defense was the huge Castillo San Cristóbal, which protected the city's main entrance.
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Protecting San Juan
The San Gerónimo and San Antonio forts were very important in 1797. They helped stop an invasion by British forces. These forces were led by Admiral Henry Harvey and Sir Ralph Abercromby.
On April 17, 1797, a large British fleet arrived. It had 64 to 68 ships and 7,000 to 13,000 soldiers. They landed near San Juan. The local military, including the Regimiento Fijo de Puerto Rico, was much smaller. Admiral Harvey blocked the San Juan Harbor. Abercromby set up his command post nearby. His plan was to take the Martín Peña bridge. This would stop Spanish help from coming. He also wanted to bomb San Gerónimo and San Antonio. This would let his troops cross into the San Juan area.
The British forces included the Royal Marines. These soldiers later became famous for defeating Napoleon's troops. However, the Governor of Puerto Rico, Field Marshal Don Ramón de Castro y Gutiérrez, was a clever leader. He stopped the British from moving forward. He prevented them from taking San Juan.
The San Gerónimo and San Antonio forts were heavily damaged. They were bombed constantly for two weeks. Stories say defenders had to shoot from behind sandbags. This was because of all the damage. Both forts were later rebuilt and made bigger.
The Fort Today
San Gerónimo is right next to the Caribe Hilton Hotel. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 11, 1983. Unlike other forts near Old San Juan, it is not part of the San Juan National Historic Site.
The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture owns San Gerónimo. However, the Hilton hotel manages it. The hotel used to hold events there sometimes. But lately, the fort has become very run down. Visitors are no longer allowed inside. The "Polvorín de San Gerónimo," which was the fort's gunpowder house, is nearby. It was built in 1769. Now, it is part of the Luis Muñoz Rivera Park.
Around 2006, groups tried to protect the fort. The Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked together. They wanted to build a breakwater. This would stop the ocean from damaging the old fort further. Some local leaders also worked to protect the fort. They tried to change building projects that might harm it.
In 2007, people protested near the fort. They were against a new tourist project called Paseo Caribe. They felt it would block public access to the fort. The protest lasted about a week. People even climbed onto cranes to stop construction.
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 asked the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to study the fort. They wanted to see if San Gerónimo should become part of the San Juan National Historic Site.
After being closed for twenty years, a new group was formed in 2018. It is called the "Asociación Amigos del Fortín de San Jerónimo." This non-profit group works to preserve the fort. They hope to reopen it for the people of Puerto Rico and tourists.
Gallery
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Panoramic view
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Aerial view
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Fortín de San Gerónimo from Ashford Ave Bridge
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San Geronimo, circa 1911
See also
In Spanish: Fortín de San Gerónimo para niños
