National Register of Historic Places listings in central Puerto Rico facts for kids

This article is about special historic places in Puerto Rico's central mountain region. These places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is like a national list of important buildings, sites, and objects in the United States. These listings help protect and celebrate places that are important to history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. This part of the list covers towns from Las Marías in the west to Juncos in the east, including the beautiful mountain slopes.

The names of places are as they appear on the National Register. Sometimes, Spanish letters like 'á' or 'ñ' are not used in the official names.

Adjuntas

In Adjuntas, you can find a unique bridge and a historic school.

Las Cabañas Bridge

The Las Cabañas Bridge was built in 1919. It was very important because it helped people get to a major coffee-growing area. Local coffee farms even helped pay for it! The designers, Rafael Nones and Félix Benítez Rexach, used a special mix of steel and concrete to create a girder bridge that was different from any other in Puerto Rico.

Aibonito

Aibonito is home to a beautiful church and a historic villa.

Church San José of Aibonito

The Church San José of Aibonito is a historic church located on Emeterio Betances Street. It's a significant landmark in the town.

Villa Julita

Villa Julita is a historic house located on San José Avenue. It was added to the National Register in 1996.

Barranquitas

Barranquitas has a very important birthplace and an ancient site.

Casa Natal de Luis Muñoz Rivera

The Casa Natal de Luis Muñoz Rivera is the birthplace of Luis Muñoz Rivera. He was a very important leader in Puerto Rico's history. This house is also known as the Museo-Biblioteca Muñoz Rivera, which means "Muñoz Rivera Museum-Library." It's a great place to learn about his life and the history of Puerto Rico.

Palo Hincado Site

The Palo Hincado Site is an archaeological site with ancient ball courts and plazas. These sites are important because they show us how people lived long ago in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Caguas

Caguas has several historic buildings, including schools and a city hall.

Aguayo Aldea Vocational High School

The Aguayo Aldea Vocational High School is an Art Deco style school built in 1939. Art Deco is a cool design style from the early 20th century.

Alcaldía de Caguas

The Alcaldía de Caguas is the city hall of Caguas. It's a very old building, constructed way back in 1856!

Gautier Benítez High School

The Gautier Benítez High School was built in 1924. It's another historic school building in Caguas.

Logia Unión y Amparo No. 44

This building was designed by a famous architect named Antonin Nechodoma. It's a significant piece of architecture in Caguas.

Primera Iglesia Bautista de Caguas

The Primera Iglesia Bautista de Caguas is a historic church built in 1909.

Cayey

Cayey is home to several historic bridges and a church.

Arenas Bridge

The Arenas Bridge is a metal truss bridge built in 1894. It's also known as "Puente Río La Plata" and spans the Río de la Plata.

Church Nuestra Señora de la Asunción of Cayey

This Spanish Colonial style church was built in 1815 and designed by José Canovas. It's a beautiful example of old Spanish architecture in Puerto Rico.

La Liendre Bridge

The La Liendre Bridge is an iron lattice lateral girder bridge from 1877. It's another example of the old bridges that helped connect communities.

Río Matón Bridge

This bridge is a lateral solid web girder bridge built in 1886.

Juana Rodríguez Morales House

The Juana Rodríguez Morales House is a Spanish Creole townhouse built in 1850. It shows us what homes looked like in Puerto Rico a long time ago.

Cidra

Cidra shares some historic bridges with Cayey.

Arenas Bridge

The Arenas Bridge is also found near Cidra. It's a metal truss bridge from 1894, also known as "Puente Río La Plata."

La Bolero

La Bolero is an interesting site related to early manufacturing plants in Puerto Rico from 1948 to 1958.

La Liendre Bridge

The La Liendre Bridge is another historic iron lattice girder bridge from 1877, also found near Cidra.

Coamo

Coamo has many historic buildings, including churches and bridges.

Casa Blanca

The Casa Blanca in Coamo is a Spanish Creole style building from 1865. It's a great example of architecture from that time.

Church San Blas de Illescas of Coamo

This church, built in 1661, is a fantastic example of Latin American Baroque architecture. It's one of the oldest churches in Puerto Rico.

General Méndez Vigo Bridge

This brick barrel vault bridge was built in 1898 by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. It's also known as Puente Río las Minas.

Hermitage Church of Nuestra Señora de Valvanera of Coamo

This church dates back to 1685, making it another very old and important religious building in Coamo.

Padre Iñigo Bridge

The Padre Iñigo Bridge is a lattice girder bridge built in 1879.

Picó Pomar Residence

This Spanish Neoclassical building from 1840 is also known as the Coamo Historic Museum. It's a place where you can learn about Coamo's past.

Puente de las Calabazas

This lattice girder bridge was built in 1882 and spans the Río Cuyón.

Comerío

Comerío has an important cave and a historic bridge.

Cueva La Mora

Cueva La Mora is an important archaeological site. Places like this help scientists learn about ancient cultures and how people lived thousands of years ago.

Río Hondo Bridge

The Río Hondo Bridge has an amazing story! It was first built in 1881 over a different river. It even survived a big hurricane in 1899! Then, in 1908, it was moved and rebuilt in its current spot. In 1995, it was the oldest bridge truss in Puerto Rico. It was later removed in 2001.

Corozal

Corozal has a historic bridge.

Mavilla Bridge

The Mavilla Bridge spans the Río Mavilla and is a historic part of the town's infrastructure.

Gurabo

Gurabo is home to a historic church.

Church San José of Gurabo

The Church San José of Gurabo was built in 1821. It's a significant part of Gurabo's history and community.

Jayuya

Jayuya is famous for a special rock with ancient art.

La Piedra Escrita

La Piedra Escrita means "The Written Rock." It's a prehistoric rock art site with ancient carvings called petroglyphs. These carvings were made by the Taíno people, who were the native inhabitants of Puerto Rico. It's like a giant outdoor art gallery from long, long ago!

Juncos

Juncos has a historic school.

José Miguel Gallardo School

The José Miguel Gallardo School is a historic school building in Juncos Pueblo.

Lares

Lares has an archaeological site and a historic hacienda.

Callejones Site

The Callejones Site is an archaeological site. These sites are like clues that help us understand the past.

Hacienda Los Torres

The Hacienda Los Torres is a beautiful Mission/Spanish Revival style building from 1846. A hacienda was a large estate, often a farm or plantation, in Spanish-speaking countries.

Las Marías

Las Marías has a historic school.

Eugenio María de Hostos School

The Eugenio María de Hostos School is a historic school building in Las Marías Pueblo.

Maricao

Maricao has a historic church and a bridge.

Church San Juan Bautista of Maricao

This Gothic style church was built in 1890. Gothic architecture is known for its pointed arches and tall windows.

Del Treinta Bridge

The Del Treinta Bridge is a rolled steel beam bridge from 1924. It was designed by Enrique Ortega.

Morovis

Morovis has a historic school.

José Fontán School

The José Fontán School is part of a group of important early 20th-century schools in Puerto Rico.

Naranjito

Naranjito has a historic school and a bridge.

Escuela Guillermo Estéves

The Escuela Guillermo Estéves is a historic school building in Naranjito Pueblo.

Plata Bridge

The Plata Bridge is a Parker truss bridge. Truss bridges use a framework of connected elements to support the roadway.

Orocovis

Orocovis has a cave with ancient art.

Cueva La Espiral

Cueva La Espiral is a prehistoric rock art site. It's part of a larger collection of rock art sites in Puerto Rico that are important for understanding ancient cultures.

San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo has two historic buildings.

Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes de San Miguel de Hato Grande

Also known as Las Mercedes, this Classical Revival style building was built in 1737. It's a very old and important church in San Lorenzo.

Residencia Machín–Ramos

The Residencia Machín–Ramos is a Spanish Colonial building from 1883. It shows us the architectural style of homes from that period.

Trujillo Alto

Trujillo Alto has a historic bridge.

Puente de Trujillo Alto

The Puente de Trujillo Alto is a steel platform bridge built in 1939. It crosses the Río Grande de Loíza.

Utuado

Utuado is home to ancient sites, bridges, and a church.

Bateyes de Viví

Bateyes de Viví is another site with ancient ball courts and plazas. These were important gathering places for the native people of Puerto Rico.

Blanco Bridge

The Blanco Bridge spans the Pellejas River and is part of the historic bridges of Puerto Rico.

Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site

The Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site is a very important and famous archaeological site. It's a National Historic Landmark, which is the highest level of historical significance in the United States. It has ancient stone plazas and ball courts used by the Taíno people.

Church San Miguel Arcángel of Utuado

The Church San Miguel Arcángel of Utuado is a historic church in Utuado Pueblo.

Villalba

Villalba has a historic school.

Walter McK. Jones School

The Walter McK. Jones School is a historic school building in Villalba Pueblo.