Fuerte de San José
Fuerte de San José, also known as Fuerte de la Playa de Ponce, was an 18th-19th-century Spanish fortress located in Barrio Playa in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was part of a three-fort system design to defend the Port of Ponce, the Barrio Playa seaport village and the City of Ponce from seaborne attacks. However, only two of the three fortifications materialized, with Fuerte San José being the largest and most complete. The fort was in operation 125 years, from 1760 to 20 March 1885, and was demolished in 1907 by order of the Puerto Rico Legislature to make room for the growing civilian population of Barrio Playa. Fuerte de San José has been compared to Fortín de San Gerónimo in San Juan, in terms of design, purpose and size.
| Fuerte de San José | |
|---|---|
| Barrio Playa Near Ponce in Puerto Rico | |
| Coordinates | 17.9806°N 66.62173°W |
| Type | Spanish fort |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Spanish Crown |
| Operator | Spanish military in Puerto Rico |
| Controlled by | Batallón Cazadores "La Patria" Nº 25 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1758 to 1760 |
| Built by | Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers |
| In use | 1760 to 20 March 1885 |
| Materials | Masonry |
| Fate | Demolished in 1907 |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Sgt Rafael Muñoz (1836); Col. Tomas de Renovales (1836); Capt Gen. Miguel de la Torre (1836) |
| Designations | 7-cannon battery |
| Demolished to make room for growing civilian urbanization of the area | |