A few years ago, we started our Visit All US Capitols quest which got rudely interrupted by a certain virus. Finally, we are back traveling and took a Holland America cruise in the Caribbean. One of our first stops was Puerto Rico. Surprisingly, we discovered that Puerto Rico has a Capitol too! Motivating me to read up on Puerto Rico and find out fascinating and fun facts! Join me in exploring the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
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The Capitol of Puerto Rico
When we started our quest, I figured we have 50 states, so there would be 50 capitols / state houses, right? Wrong! When we visited Puerto Rico we took a tour with as first stop: the Capitol!
Puerto Rico has a capitol but isn’t a state. Yet…
So what IS Puerto Rico? Maybe you have heard that it is a territory of the USA, but that doesn’t explain much either. At least, it didn’t for me. Eventually I found out that territories belong to the United States, but they are not considered to be a part of USA like the 50 states and the District of Columbia are. In summary: it’s complicated!
Seemingly, the people of Puerto Rico get treated as second rate citizens and in 2020 a majority of the inhabitants voted to become a U.S. state. So why would they want to become a state?
Puerto Rico citizens are American citizens but can’t vote in the US presidential elections
Since 1917, citizens of Puerto Rico have been American citizens, but they have fewer rights than the average US citizen. For example, they are allowed to vote in the primaries, but not the final presidential election.
They have their own local three branches of government, including a locally elected governor and a territorial legislature, but they also are subject to the general US federal laws. Frankly, Congress has treated Puerto Rico as a dependent colony, always retaining a veto power over what the territory’s government chooses to do.
Though they can’t vote for presidency, Puerto Ricans can enlist in the U.S. military and have been included in the compulsory draft whenever it has been in effect. In World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War Puerto Ricans were the most decorated Hispanic soldiers. So yes, you can fight, but not vote? Seems pretty unfair to me.
One representative in the US house, but she can’t vote!
As another example of their political irrelevance, Puerto Rico has a non-voting resident commissioner in the U.S. House of Representatives. (currently Jenniffer González-Colón). In addition to not having a vote in Congress, Puerto Rico also has no representation in the Senate.
If you want to read more about the Puerto Rico statehood issues, a good overview of the pros and cons of Puerto Rico (and Washington DC) statehood are listed by the Brittanica.
What are other USA territories?
The USA owns five permanently inhabited territories
- the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
- U.S. Virgin Islands (stay tuned for a post about St Thomas);
- Guam;
- Northern Mariana Islands;
- American Samoa
It also has more than 10 uninhabited territories, mostly in the Pacific Ocean.
Interesting and Fun Facts about Puerto Rico
Boriken, “the great land of the valiant and noble Lord”
Not much is known about the indigenous people of Puerto Rico, but there is archeological evidence of settlers starting around 4,000 BCE. When Columbus arrived, the population consisted of Taíno inhabitants, who named the island Boriken, which stands for “the great land of the valiant and noble Lord”
San Juan Baptiste (by Columbus)
Of course, in 1493, when Columbus landed during his second expedition he gave it a Spanish name. Ignoring the 30,000 to 60,000 Taíno people, he rebranded the island San Juan Bautista, in honor of St John the Baptist. At first, the capital city was named Ciudad de Puerto Rico (“Rich Port City”). But eventually people started to use Puerto Rico for the entire island and San Juan became the capital city / port.
First cathedral church in “The New World”
Soon after the “discovery” of the island of Puerto Rico, the Spanish built the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist in 1521. Although a hurricane destroyed that building, they constructed a new one in 1540 and this cathedral is the oldest cathedral in the USA.
A Convent turned Hotel: El Convento
During the 17th century, Spain wanted a nunnery next to the cathedral. After it was established, it operated for almost three centuries as a convent. Once the Catholic church in 1903 decided the upkeep was too expensive, it sat vacant for five decades, until Robert Woolworth bought the building.
After extensive renovations, he opened it as a boutique hotel, El Convento, attracting famous people like Rita Heyworth, Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway and Jennifer Lopez. In the original courtyard you still can find a 300-year-old Spanish loquat fruit tree.
The Battle of San Juan: Invasion by the Destructive Dutch
In 1625, 17 Dutch ships, led by Boudewijn Hendricksz, sailed directly into San Juan’s harbor. The Spanish tried to defend from their El Morro fort, but it was ineffective, killing only 4 sailors. After leading 800 men ashore and occupying the empty city (the inhabitants had fled), Hendricksz demanded the surrender of the fort El Morro.
After weeks of fighting and cannon fire, they still had been unable to win El Morro. Hendricksz called upon the Spanish to capitulate – “Surrender, or we burn the town.” The Spanish commander, De Haro, defied him by replying “We have enough courage and wood and stone to build again.” The next day, the Dutch made good on their promise and started burning all buildings – over 100 houses, the library, and the city archives.
Old San Juan: a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Since 1949, San Juan has been on the National Register of Historic Places. Not only is it part of the National Park Service, it also has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. They explain it as
Between the 16th and 20th centuries, a series of defensive structures was built at this strategic point in the Caribbean Sea to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan. They represent a fine display of European military architecture adapted to harbour sites on the American continent.
UNESCO World Heritage Convention
Full Size Copy of the Liberty Bell
In addition to visiting all the state houses, we are trying to visit all the full size copies of the Liberty Bell. Unfortunately, they do have one in San Juan, but we didn’t have enough time to visit it. So we have a great reason to go back and explore more of this beautiful country! Another wish list item: visiting the Columbus statue that is higher than the Statue of Liberty!
Summary: Fun Facts of Puerto Rico
I hope you understand more about the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its rich history. If you get an opportunity to visit: go for it! We will be back to dive deeper into this old Spanish colony and of course to visit the Liberty Bell repica.
Have you been to Puerto Rico? Please let us know in the comments!
Other US State Houses and Capitols to Visit
- Ten Surprising New Hampshire State House Facts New Hampshire people are cheapskates!
- Ten Surprising Vermont State House Facts Discover ancient fossils;
- The Maine State House With bells on;
- The Massachusetts State House Where the Boston Italian North End was born;
- The Old State House in Boston, site of the Boston Massacre.
- Connecticut Capitol Fun Facts Home of the so-called “Black Law”;
- Rhode Island State House: Ten Surprising Facts Discover its Dutch history;
- New York State Capitol. An expensive boondoggle;
- Alaska Capitol. Which animal guards it?
- Washington State Capitol. Women’s suffrage for the win!
- Breaking news: why Puerto Rico has a State House of its own!
- The US Virgin Islands have a Capitol Building in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Voted the state Capitol building with the best view!
- Get inspired by our Travel Quests and start your own!
When you visit any of these or other state houses, don’t forget to check out whether they have a full size replica of the Liberty Bell. Most of them do.
Don’t Miss These UNESCO World Heritage Sites
World Heritage Sites in the Americas
- Sian Ka’an Biosphere in Mexico: where the sun was born;
- The Everglades: both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve;
- The Statue of Liberty in New York City, USA;
- Take an Alaska cruise and visit Glacier Bay National Park;
- Go watch whales in Quebec City;
- Puerto Rico Does it Better! Old San Juan and fun facts about Puerto Rico
World Heritage Sites in Europe
- Paris around the Seine;
- Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: right in the middle of the historic Canals District;
- Passau, Germany, often the start or end of a Danube river cruise;
- Matera, Italy: the oldest continually habituated place in the world, also called the City of Caves;
