El Cañuelo Historic Structure Report, San Juan National Historic Site

WLA Studio; RATIO Architect; Palmer Engineering; Building Conservation Associates, Inc

In 2012, the National Park Service decided to restore access to Fort San Juan de la Cruz. This fortification, located on the opposite side of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, was instrumental in preserving Spanish dominion over Puerto Rico until the 19th Century. Occupying the whole extension of the small island of El Cañuelo, the fort allowed the Spanish to control the entrance to the San Juan Bay as well as the mouth of the Bayamón River, which was crucial for communications with the interior of Puerto Rico. The historical significance of this fort and its contribution to the overall defensive strategy of the Spanish Empire has been well established, particularly in the events related to the 1625 Dutch Attack. There is a saying in Puerto Rico that states: “Good perfume comes in small flasks, but so does venom”. This is a good description for El Cañuelo. The fort, together with El Morro, represented an almost impossible obstacle for those trying to force their way into the San Juan Harbor. It was, as the saying goes, perfume for the Spanish but venom to their enemies. During its long life, El Cañuelo has been used for multiple purposes. This rich history however, has not prevented long periods of disrepair and lack of maintenance resulting in a progressive deterioration that was not addressed until the National Park Service acquired the fortification from the U.S. Army in the 1960’s. After initial repairs and the conditioning of the spaces surrounding it to accommodate visitation, the fort was never the subject of a well-planned preservation program. There were, for sure, important interventions such as the construction of a breakwater to minimize the effects of coastal erosion; the construction of a cap to prevent vandals from accessing the fortification; and its reopening to the public in 2012. However, these approaches to the rehabilitation of the fortification did not respond to an organized and prioritized treatment plan. This is the main goal of this historic structure report. This report will serve as the guide for future treatment of the fortification. It is meant to work in conjunction with other planning efforts such as the Ethnographic Assessment of San Juan National Historic Site, which has tied the preservation of the fortification with public engagement in the Palo Seco community. The park wants to raise awareness of the conditions of the fortification while highlighting its significance to world history. This is an important step to make Fort San Juan de la Cruz relevant to the community, and to educate the public about the threats it is facing. Through this concerted effort, the park and the fort can represent an economic and social development tool for this gateway community while preserving it for this and future generations.

El Cañuelo Historic Structure Report, San Juan National Historic Site

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