Puerto Rico was the first major island with fresh water that ships encountered as they sailed west from Europe. San Juan' excellent harbor was the first secure, deep-water port. The nation that controlled the harbor could protect their merchant ships and send warships out to control shipping to and from the Caribbean. For almost 400 years Spain defended San Juan and its harbor. El Morro was the key to that defense.
Spain built El Morro over a span of 250 years. The oldest part—-a tower that still stands deep within the fort—-was built in 1539. By 1790, El Morro looked similar to the way it does now.
Why Is It Called El Morro?
Castillo San Felipe del Morro owes its name to the headland where it sits. El Morro means the headland—a high point of land that extends into a body of water.
The importance of San Juan for the security of the Spanish empire so impressed King Carlos III that in September 1765 he decreed San Juan should be made "a Defense of the First Order."
HM Number | HM14SU |
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Tags | |
Marker Condition | No reports yet |
Date Added | Thursday, September 11th, 2014 at 4:17am PDT -07:00 |
UTM (WGS84 Datum) | 19Q E 803788 N 2044647 |
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Decimal Degrees | 18.47040000, -66.12360000 |
Degrees and Decimal Minutes | N 18° 28.224', W 66° 7.416' |
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds | 18° 28' 13.44" N, 66° 7' 24.96" W |
Driving Directions | Google Maps |
Area Code(s) | 787 |
Closest Postal Address | At or near 200-298 Cll Del Morro, San Juan San Juan 00926, PR |
Alternative Maps | Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap |
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