It was built during the 18th century to replace a smaller battery (called El Boquerón) that stood at the easternmost end of the San Juan islet. The original Boquerón battery was used by the Spanish to defend the city of San Juan from attacks by Sir Francis Drake in 1595 and George Clifford, the third Earl of Cumberland in 1598, who managed to destroy it during his attack. San Gerónimo became part of San Juan's first line of defense, along with the Fortín San Antonio and Escambrón Fort, while the last line of defense was the formidable Castillo San Cristóbal, which guarded the city entrance proper and also defended from land attacks.
The San Gerónimo and San Antonio forts were pivotal in repelling the invasion by the forces of British Admiral Henry Harvey and Sir Ralph Abercromby in 1797. On April 17, 1797, their combined forces (64 to 68 ships and 7,000 to 13,000 men) landed in Cangrejos, approximately three miles west of San Juan. San Juan's military forces, which included, among others, the Regimiento Fijo de Puerto Rico (Resident Regiment of Puerto Rico) and the Militias Disciplinadas (Trained Militias) were outnumbered by the invaders by a ratio of almost three to one. Admiral Harvey blockaded the San Juan Harbor while Abercromby established his operations headquarters in San Mateo parish overseeing all of San Juan and the Martín Peña Bridge. Abercromby's strategy was to take the Martín Peña bridge in order to block Spanish reinforcements from the south and bombard San Gerónimo and San Antonio from Miramar to gain access to and cross the San Antonio Bridge into the San Juan islet. British forces included the Royal Marines, made famous by their later defeat of Napoleon's troops in Egypt. Then-Governor of Puerto Rico Field Marshal Don Ramón de Castro y Gutiérrez, a brilliant strategist, prevented the British from advancing and frustrated their conquest of San Juan.
Fort San Gerónimo with El Condado in the background
The San Gerónimo and San Antonio sustained heavy damage from the constant bombardment during the two-week siege on the city. Chronicles describe the defenders shooting their muskets and cannons from behind sandbags because of the devastation their forts sustained. Both San Gerónimo and San Antonio were eventually rebuilt and expanded.
As recent as the year 2006, attempts were being made by the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a breakwater to stop any further deterioration from irreparably damaging the centuries-old fort. Senate Vice President Orlando Parga has led efforts to modify some of the construction projects that would encroach on the fort or would hamper the Corps of Engineers' preservation and reconstruction efforts.[citation needed]
In July 2007, the Fort was the scene of protests against the construction of a tourist project called Paseo Caribe that would block access to the fortification. Protesters argued that the public should have free access to it. The protest lasted about a week during which the protesters halted the construction projects by climbing onto the cranes.[citation needed]
After two decades closed to the public, in 2018 the "Asociación Amigos del Fortín de San Jerónimo" was created, a non-profit association that is responsible for the preservation and future reopening for the charity of the Puerto Rican people and tourists.
Puerta de Tierra, San Juan - Fortín San Jerónimo (sic) (Spanish)
March 03, 2023
fortín, gerónimo, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Fortin de San Geronimo news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Fortin de San Geronimo de Boqueron is a small fort located at the mouth of the Condado Lagoon across from the historic sector of Miramar in San Juan Puerto Rico Fortin de San Geronimo de BoqueronU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtContributing propertyFort San Geronimo picture taken from Caribe Hilton HotelLocation in Puerto RicoLocationPuerta de Tierra subbarrio San Juan Puerto RicoCoordinates18 27 46 N 66 05 03 W 18 462841 N 66 084199 W 18 462841 66 084199 Coordinates 18 27 46 N 66 05 03 W 18 462841 N 66 084199 W 18 462841 66 084199Area0 4 acres 0 16 ha Built1791ArchitectJuan Francisco Mestre 1791 reconstruction Part ofLinea Avanzada 2 ID97001136 NRHP reference No 83004199 1 Added to NRHPOctober 11 1983It was built during the 18th century to replace a smaller battery called El Boqueron that stood at the easternmost end of the San Juan islet The original Boqueron battery was used by the Spanish to defend the city of San Juan from attacks by Sir Francis Drake in 1595 and George Clifford the third Earl of Cumberland in 1598 who managed to destroy it during his attack San Geronimo became part of San Juan s first line of defense along with the Fortin San Antonio and Escambron Fort while the last line of defense was the formidable Castillo San Cristobal which guarded the city entrance proper and also defended from land attacks Contents 1 Overview 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOverview Edit San Geronimo The San Geronimo and San Antonio forts were pivotal in repelling the invasion by the forces of British Admiral Henry Harvey and Sir Ralph Abercromby in 1797 On April 17 1797 their combined forces 64 to 68 ships and 7 000 to 13 000 men landed in Cangrejos approximately three miles west of San Juan San Juan s military forces which included among others the Regimiento Fijo de Puerto Rico Resident Regiment of Puerto Rico and the Militias Disciplinadas Trained Militias were outnumbered by the invaders by a ratio of almost three to one Admiral Harvey blockaded the San Juan Harbor while Abercromby established his operations headquarters in San Mateo parish overseeing all of San Juan and the Martin Pena Bridge Abercromby s strategy was to take the Martin Pena bridge in order to block Spanish reinforcements from the south and bombard San Geronimo and San Antonio from Miramar to gain access to and cross the San Antonio Bridge into the San Juan islet British forces included the Royal Marines made famous by their later defeat of Napoleon s troops in Egypt Then Governor of Puerto Rico Field Marshal Don Ramon de Castro y Gutierrez a brilliant strategist prevented the British from advancing and frustrated their conquest of San Juan Fort San Geronimo with El Condado in the background The San Geronimo and San Antonio sustained heavy damage from the constant bombardment during the two week siege on the city Chronicles describe the defenders shooting their muskets and cannons from behind sandbags because of the devastation their forts sustained Both San Geronimo and San Antonio were eventually rebuilt and expanded San Geronimo gunpowder house San Geronimo is located adjacent to the grounds of the Caribe Hilton Hotel It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 11 1983 Unlike similar forts near Old San Juan it is not part of San Juan National Historic Site San Geronimo is owned by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture but is managed by the Hilton citation needed Thanks to the work of volunteers the fort is again open to the public and contains an exhibit of the history of San Juan The Polvorin de San Geronimo or gunpowder house that was built in 1769 and supplied the fort with gunpowder is now part of the Luis Munoz Rivera Park nearby As recent as the year 2006 attempts were being made by the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena and the U S Army Corps of Engineers to build a breakwater to stop any further deterioration from irreparably damaging the centuries old fort Senate Vice President Orlando Parga has led efforts to modify some of the construction projects that would encroach on the fort or would hamper the Corps of Engineers preservation and reconstruction efforts citation needed In July 2007 the Fort was the scene of protests against the construction of a tourist project called Paseo Caribe that would block access to the fortification Protesters argued that the public should have free access to it The protest lasted about a week during which the protesters halted the construction projects by climbing onto the cranes citation needed The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 directed the U S Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability of including San Geronimo as part of San Juan National Historic Site 3 After two decades closed to the public in 2018 the Asociacion Amigos del Fortin de San Jeronimo was created a non profit association that is responsible for the preservation and future reopening for the charity of the Puerto Rican people and tourists Gallery Edit Panoramic view Aerial view Fortin de San Geronimo from Ashford Ave Bridge San Geronimo circa 1911See also Edit Puerto Rico portalFuerte de San JoseReferences Edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Marull Jose E February 14 1997 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form Linea Avanzada PDF retrieved March 8 2016 Pub L 111 11 text PDF 7212External links EditInstituto de Cultura Puertorriquena Spanish Puerta de Tierra San Juan Fortin San Jeronimo sic Spanish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fortin de San Geronimo amp oldid 1141430540, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
