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San Juan City Hall facts for kids

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San Juan City Hall
Casa de la Alcaldía de San Juan
Puerto Rico — San Juan — City Hall.JPG
San Juan City Hall (2015)
General information
Architectural style Neoclassic Spanish Colonial
Location 153 San Francisco Street, Old San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Groundbreaking 1604
Construction started 18th century
Completed 1842
Design and construction
Architect Pedro García

San Juan City Hall (in Spanish, Casa de la Alcaldía de San Juan) is an important building in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is where the local government of San Juan works. Think of it as the main office for the city! This building is in Old San Juan, right across from a main square called Plaza de Armas. It is also next to the old Palace of the Royal Intendency, which is now home to the Puerto Rico Department of State.

The San Juan City Hall was built over many years, starting in 1604 and finishing its main parts by 1789. It has been changed and made bigger many times. The way it looks today, especially its front facing the square, was designed in 1840 by an architect named Pedro García. He was inspired by a famous building in Madrid, Spain, called the Casa de la Panadería.

Exploring San Juan City Hall

San Juan- City Hall (1906)
San Juan City Hall (1906)

The city hall building has a big staircase inside. It also has an open courtyard that you can visit. At the main entrance, facing the Plaza de Armas, there is a special message written in Latin. It means: "Value the light of justice, whoever serves their people." This reminds everyone working there to be fair and helpful.

On the first floor of the main building, you can find offices that help tourists. The second floor is where the Mayor of San Juan works. The Mayor is like the leader of the city. This floor is also where the main city government meetings happen.

The Historic Meeting Hall

One of the most famous rooms in the city hall is called the Sala Capitular. This means "chapter hall" or "meeting hall" in Spanish. Many important things have happened in this room! For example, in 1812, a person named Ramón Power y Giralt was chosen here to represent Puerto Rico in Spain. Also, in 1873, the papers to end slavery in Puerto Rico were signed in this very room.

The city hall also has a special place called the San Juan Bautista Gallery. This gallery often shows amazing art created by local artists from Puerto Rico.

Gallery

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Casa de la Alcaldía de San Juan para niños

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