Fortaleza San Felipe Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Museo de la Fortaleza San Felipe

Established	1965 Opened to the Public in 1983
Location	Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Type	History museum

The Fortaleza San Felipe is an old Spanish fort in the northern part of the Dominican Republic. It's in a place called Puerto Plata. People also know it as El Morro de San Felipe. This fort was built to keep the City of Puerto Plata safe. It protected the city from invaders, pirates, and privateers. The fort sits on a hill called Puntilla del Malecón, which means "seawall point." From there, it watches over the entrance to the city's seaport.

Building the fort started in 1564 and finished in 1577. It was named after King Felipe II of Spain. This fort is one of the oldest European buildings in the Caribbean. It is the only part of Puerto Plata that remains from the 1500s.

Today, the Fortaleza San Felipe is a museum. It shows how important the fort was in the history of Puerto Plata and the Dominican Republic. Inside, you can see old military items from the 1700s and 1800s.

A Look Back: The Fort's History
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A Look Back: The Fort's History

In 1564, Spain decided to build a fort in Puerto Plata. Francisco Ceballos was in charge of the building project. After he passed away in 1572, Don Rengifo de Angulo took over. The fort was finished in 1577. It was named after King Felipe II of Spain.

Why the Fort Was Built

The fort was built in a very smart spot. It was on a hill looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. It also watched the entrance to the city's harbor: the Port of Puerto Plata. The main goal of the fort was to protect the island's northern coast. It kept it safe from attacks by other European countries and pirates.

Battles and Occupations

Over many years, the fort saw many battles. It was captured and taken over several times. In 1659, some buccaneers took control of the fort for a short time. In 1800, the fort was part of a land battle during the Quasi War against the United States. American forces won against both French and Spanish soldiers in the Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor that May.

Later, in 1863, Spanish soldiers hid inside the Fortaleza de San Felipe. This happened when Dominican patriots attacked the city on August 27. The fort was also captured by U.S. naval forces in 1916. This was at the start of the United States occupation of the Dominican Republic. That occupation lasted from 1916 to 1924.

The Fort as a Prison

The Fortaleza San Felipe was used as a prison many times. This included during the time when Rafael Trujillo was a dictator. It was where President Pedro Santana put Juan Pablo Duarte in jail. Duarte was one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic. During Trujillo's rule, the husbands of the Mirabal sisters were also held there.

From Fort to Museum

The fortress became a museum in 1965. It was greatly improved in 1972. The museum officially opened to the public in 1983. Today, this fort is the only building left from the 1500s in Puerto Plata. Other old parts of the city were destroyed in battles or fires. This happened during the War of Restoration.