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The Arenas Bridge
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Arenas Bridge: Photo from National Register collection
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The Arenas Bridge was the longest span built in Puerto Rico during the Spanish Colonial period. Designed by Mariano Sichar, who was then the District Engineer at Ponce, the 23,623 pound steel truss was built in 1894 by the prominent Belgian firm of Nicrisse and Decluve for 56,221 pesos. The bridge was transported to Puerto Rico on the steamboat Teutonia. José Roque-Paniagua oversaw the constuction of the stone abutments, and prominent engineer Julio Larrinaga supervised assembling the bridge. This is the most important metal bridge in Puerto Rico from the period. The Arenas Bridge was built as part of the Carretera Central, the first highway across the central mountains of Puerto Rico.
The Arenas Bridge, which is still in use, spans the Plata River on PR-735, Km. 1.3, between the towns of Caguas and Cayey, Puerto Rico.
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Plaza Pública
The Emperor of Spain, Phillip II, decreed in 1576 that plazas in the "New World" colonies were to be created following his rigid requirements, namely that plazas were to be placed in the center of each settlement, with major government, commercial, residential and church buildings facing the plaza.
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The Centro Ceremonial Indigena
Located in Tibes ward, close to the town of Ponce, is one of the largest and most important ceremonial sites in Puerto Rico. Archeological investigation and radiocarbon dating indicate that the site's major period of occupation was from 400 through 1000 AD. The site consists of several stone-lined courts/plazas shaded by native trees. The last inhabitants of the site are believed to have been Tainos.
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The Church of San Blas de Illescas 
The church is separated from the open plaza below by a series of ceremonial steps and a delicate cast iron balustrade. Construction on the church began in 1661; it has since been judged one of the most important works of religious architecture in Puerto Rico.
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The Casa Natal de Luis Muñoz Rivera
The birthplace of distinguished liberal politician, journalist, orator and writer Luis Muñoz Rivera in 1859. Luis Muñoz Rivera collaborated on such newspapers as El Pueblo, Clamor del País and El Buscapié; he also founded the newspaper La Democracia.
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The Arenas Bridge
The Arenas Bridge was the longest span built in Puerto Rico during the Spanish Colonial period. Designed by Mariano Sichar, who was then the District Engineer at Ponce, the 23,623 pound steel truss was built in 1894 by the prominent Belgian firm of Nicrisse and Decluve for 56,221 pesos.
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San Juan National Historic Site
Administered by the National Park Service, includes forts, bastions, powder houses, walls and El Cañuelo Fort, also called San Juan de la Cruz--defensive fortifications that once surrounded the old, colonial portion of San Juan.
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La Fortaleza
La Fortaleza was the first fortification built in San Juan harbor. Constructed between 1533 and 1540, the original fort consisted of a circular tower and four massive stone walls.
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Casa Cautiño
Casa Cautiño's owner, Genaro Cautiño Vázquez, was a wealthy Guayama landowner as well as a colonel of the Volunteer Battalion of the Spanish Army. During the Spanish-Americn War, Casa Cautiño served as the headquarters for the American forces, and it was occupied by U.S. Brig. Gen. Frederick Dent Grant.
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Casa de España
Puerto Rican architect Pedro de Castro designed the Casa de España building in 1932 for a privite civic and cultural organization composed of Spanish citizens living in Puerto Rico.
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El Capitolio de Puerto Rico
For Puerto Ricans, El Capitolio de Puerto Rico stands as a powerful symbol of self-government. Former resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico Luis Muñoz Rivera promoted the idea of constructing a capitol building as early as 1907; later he was the prime mover in seeking the capitol building's construction between 1925 and 1929.
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Polvorín de San Gerónimo
The Polvorín de San Gerónimo (San Geronimo Powderhouse) is one of four gunpowder and ammunition storage buildings the Spanish built in the 18th century as part of San Juan's defensive system.
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