Puerto Rico’s charms are many and quite unlike what you’ll find elsewhere in the United States. You can scale the steps of a 16th-century fort or journey through a tropical forest to find a world-famous seat of scientific research. Although the island seems designed for relaxation, with extensive white beaches and Caribbean-style nightlife, the curious explorer also finds plenty of landmarks of significance. (USA Today).
Culebrita Lighthouse
Although a July 2006 photo shows the small modern light in the shattered lantern, it is amazing that this lighthouse is in service. As of late 2000, the building is in ruins, severely damaged by vandals and by Hurricanes Hugo (1989) and Marilyn (1995). This is...
Caja de Muerto Lighthouse
Lighthouse painted white, lantern black. Poorly maintained, the light station is on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List, holes in the roof are allowing rain to drench the interior. Caja de Muertos is a small island in the Caribbean about 5 miles southeast of Ponce;...
Cabo Rojo Lighthouse
The lighthouse was renovated in 1986, but thereafter it was not maintained and rapidly deteriorated through neglect and vandalism. In early 2001 the lighthouse was in very poor condition. In June 2002 the city government announced it would spend $4.5 million to...
Arecibo Lighthouse
A hexagonal cylindrical stone tower attached to 1-story stone office and keeper's house; 190 mm lens. Tower painted white. The original lantern, removed many years ago, has been replaced by a restored lantern with an unpainted copper roof. This is the last lighthouse...
Isla Mona
Pyramidal skeletal cast iron tower with central cylinder, lantern and gallery. Originally painted black, the lighthouse is now covered with rust. The active light is on a 40 ft steel tower. The lighthouse has deteriorated severely since deactivation and is in...
Faro Hiquero (Rincon)
Tower painted white; the gallery and lantern roof are black. The original lighthouse was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami of 11 October 1918. The original lantern was installed on the new tower and remains in use today. The lighthouse is the centerpiece of El...
Faro del Morro
A 51 ft square brick Moorish tower atop the battlements of El Morro (San Felipe del Morro), the castle-like fort guarding the entrance to San Juan harbor. Light tower painted gray, gallery and trim white, lantern black. A 3rd order Fresnel lens installed in 1899...
Lighthouses in Puerto Rico
This is a list of lighthouses in Puerto Rico. The lighthouses system of Puerto Rico consists of lighthouses that were built mostly during the last twenty years of the nineteenth century. These served as guides to important marine routes. In 1869 the Spanish government...
Forts of Puerto Rico
Fort San Felipe Del Morro: Fort San Felipe del Morro or El Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Spanish is a sixteenth-century citadel which lies on the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Named in honor of King Philip II of Spain, the fort,...
Arecibo Observatory
Hidden by the surrounding mountains along the North-Western area of Puerto Rico, lies the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory. It was built in 1960, and is funded yearly by a $7.5 Million grant from the National Science Foundation. These funds are managed by Cornell...
Boqueron Beach
Boqueron is a beach village located in the town of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. The village is one of the main tourist attractions in the southwestern part of the island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the barrio population was 4,963. Boqueron beach (balneario de...
