Localization
Parque Histórico de San Juan is located east of the city of Santiago de Cuba, on the San Juan Hill that dominates the valley and the San Juan River.
Opening Hours
daily 09:00 - 17:00
Admission Details
free
War of Independence veteran Colonel José González Valdés played
a pivotal role in preserving many of the sites linked to the
Cuban-Spanish-American War, when he was appointed Chief of the
Military District of Oriente. His application for the
construction of a park appropriate to the historical importance
of the place was accepted by the President of Cuba Gerardo
Machado, in 1927.
Donations soon began to pour in for the project, because Cubans wanted to immortalize their important contribution to the events of 1898 with monuments, because those who visited here, was leaving with the impression that only Americans fought in the whole struggle, and what the victimized Cubans did for their own homeland was not adequately reflected.
The first monument to be erected was completed in September 1927. It was a concrete pillar with a central body that bore the national coat of arms and a plaque whose text paid tribute to the officers and soldiers of the Liberation Army that participated in the war of 1898. The park was surrounded by a large perimeter fence. A road of up to 500 meters was built from Siboney road to here. With the project of architect Ildefonso Moncada, the historical area and the part between the entrance of the park and the intersection of Siboney road with Vista Alegre was illuminated with streetlamps erected 50 meters apart.
In 1928, the park was enriched by addition of two historical cannons to the monumental area. One of them was a culebrina (a cannon with wheels on both sides) that the Liberation Army had used during the bombardment of Las Tunas in 1898. The other one was a hontario (a cannon fixed in place) that belonged to the Spanish cruiser Reine Mercedes that had been stationed in the battery of Punta Gorda (a small peninsula within the bay that is an ideal place to control the mouth of the bay).
To better reflect the atmosphere of the war, it was decided to erect two separate monuments. One of these monuments would be named Victorious Mambi, and the other would be named Spanish Soldier. Thus, all three sides fought here, would be represented in the park. Although the construction started immediately, the unveiling of the monuments was postponed until 1929 due to financial difficulties, but the renovated Parque Histórico de San Juan was officially opened in mid-1928 without waiting for the completion of the sculptural sets.
Years later, in 1996, a team consisting of two historians and an architect was established to investigate what could be done for the plaques that were removed in the first years of the revolution. As a result of the work of this team, it was decided to put the removed plaques back in their original places, and to erect a more informative monument on the occasion of the centennial of the event, as these plaques were not very informative about what was happening.
In 1998, a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers, historians, and restoration experts, commissioned by La Oficina del Conservador de la Ciudad de Santiago de Cuba, began an extensive restoration work within the park. On the centenary of the city's surrender on June 17, the last monument in this historical area was unveiled.
Donations soon began to pour in for the project, because Cubans wanted to immortalize their important contribution to the events of 1898 with monuments, because those who visited here, was leaving with the impression that only Americans fought in the whole struggle, and what the victimized Cubans did for their own homeland was not adequately reflected.
The first monument to be erected was completed in September 1927. It was a concrete pillar with a central body that bore the national coat of arms and a plaque whose text paid tribute to the officers and soldiers of the Liberation Army that participated in the war of 1898. The park was surrounded by a large perimeter fence. A road of up to 500 meters was built from Siboney road to here. With the project of architect Ildefonso Moncada, the historical area and the part between the entrance of the park and the intersection of Siboney road with Vista Alegre was illuminated with streetlamps erected 50 meters apart.
In 1928, the park was enriched by addition of two historical cannons to the monumental area. One of them was a culebrina (a cannon with wheels on both sides) that the Liberation Army had used during the bombardment of Las Tunas in 1898. The other one was a hontario (a cannon fixed in place) that belonged to the Spanish cruiser Reine Mercedes that had been stationed in the battery of Punta Gorda (a small peninsula within the bay that is an ideal place to control the mouth of the bay).
To better reflect the atmosphere of the war, it was decided to erect two separate monuments. One of these monuments would be named Victorious Mambi, and the other would be named Spanish Soldier. Thus, all three sides fought here, would be represented in the park. Although the construction started immediately, the unveiling of the monuments was postponed until 1929 due to financial difficulties, but the renovated Parque Histórico de San Juan was officially opened in mid-1928 without waiting for the completion of the sculptural sets.
Years later, in 1996, a team consisting of two historians and an architect was established to investigate what could be done for the plaques that were removed in the first years of the revolution. As a result of the work of this team, it was decided to put the removed plaques back in their original places, and to erect a more informative monument on the occasion of the centennial of the event, as these plaques were not very informative about what was happening.
In 1998, a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers, historians, and restoration experts, commissioned by La Oficina del Conservador de la Ciudad de Santiago de Cuba, began an extensive restoration work within the park. On the centenary of the city's surrender on June 17, the last monument in this historical area was unveiled.
A better understanding of the monuments in this historical area
is possible by knowing what had happened here. For this reason,
it is recommended to the reader first obtain information about
the war between the USA and Spain on the Cuban soil (please
click here).
HISTORY
The area that Parque Histórico de San Juan occupies today, was called El Caney in the 19th century. The idea of preserving this area, which witnessed bloody battles between Spanish, US, and Cuban troops in mid-1898, and turning it into an open museum due to its historical importance, dates to the beginning of the 20th century, that is, right after the war.
In 1903, a committee formed under the chairmanship of Dr. Antonio Reyes Zamora presented a project regarding the arrangement of the area on San Juan Hill to the city council. Despite months of negotiations, what has been done was nothing more than good wishes.
In 1904, Consul General of the United States in Havana, Frank Steinhart, presented a project to the government on behalf of the North American Army Society of Santiago de Cuba to establish a monumental area on San Juan Hill. Accordingly, an allusive inscription and a commemorative plaque would be erected in front of the ruins such as the blockhouse, and a cannon and four mortars remaining from the Spanish would be exhibited.
In 1905, Lieutenant Colonel James Webb Cook Hayes visited Santiago de Cuba with the purpose of selecting those objects among the remained war material which could be used in the monumental area. Mayor Emilio Bacardí who accompanied him on the tour to the historic sites, lent several artillery pieces.
Finally in 1907, the monumental area was inaugurated with the fort and the obelisk which are the oldest preserved monuments on the site. To complete the set, several cannons were placed near the fort, two of which had explanatory plaques.
Although great interest was shown by Americans, Cubans, Spaniards and citizens of many countries, the historical site was neglected and its road could not be repaired for a long time due to the financial difficulties of the Santiago de Cuba City Council. Between 1910 and 1920, this situation attracted the reaction of war veterans and many Cubans those who lost their relatives in this area.
In 1922, the U.S. State Legislature of Massachusetts approved a loan of 2.000 pesos for the erection of a monument in Santiago de Cuba commemorating the soldiers of the Second and Ninth Regiments who lost their lives during the Cuban-Spanish-American War.
In 1923, a ceremony was held in the presence of a commission from Massachusetts, attended by Governor of Oriente José Ramón Barceló and some civil, military, and religious authorities, and plaques featuring the work of the sculptor Raymond Averill Porter, were placed on both sides of the entrance door of the reception hall of the Government Palace accompanied by the national anthems of both countries. In 1930, Colonel José González Valdés convinced Santiago de Cuba City Council President José Castro Palomino and US Consul Edward Natham to place these plates in the historical site on San Juan Hill.
In 1924, Louis Culliver, a Spanish-American War veteran and New York state senator, made a proposal to erect a monument in the San Juan area. This monument would be a monument with the name Unnamed American Soldier, depicting a soldier from the 71st Regiment of New York Volunteers. Accordingly, the states participating in the war would bear the cost of 10.000 dollars. At the end of the same year, a commission was established under the chairmanship of Captain Walter Joyce, who visited Cuba to determine the location of the monument to be erected. The monument was designed by Joseph Pollia, an artist of Italian origin living in the United States. In 1926, the work was unveiled at a ceremony attended by Colonel José González Valdés, Chief of the Oriente Military District, and several speakers.
HISTORY
The area that Parque Histórico de San Juan occupies today, was called El Caney in the 19th century. The idea of preserving this area, which witnessed bloody battles between Spanish, US, and Cuban troops in mid-1898, and turning it into an open museum due to its historical importance, dates to the beginning of the 20th century, that is, right after the war.
In 1903, a committee formed under the chairmanship of Dr. Antonio Reyes Zamora presented a project regarding the arrangement of the area on San Juan Hill to the city council. Despite months of negotiations, what has been done was nothing more than good wishes.
In 1904, Consul General of the United States in Havana, Frank Steinhart, presented a project to the government on behalf of the North American Army Society of Santiago de Cuba to establish a monumental area on San Juan Hill. Accordingly, an allusive inscription and a commemorative plaque would be erected in front of the ruins such as the blockhouse, and a cannon and four mortars remaining from the Spanish would be exhibited.
In 1905, Lieutenant Colonel James Webb Cook Hayes visited Santiago de Cuba with the purpose of selecting those objects among the remained war material which could be used in the monumental area. Mayor Emilio Bacardí who accompanied him on the tour to the historic sites, lent several artillery pieces.
Finally in 1907, the monumental area was inaugurated with the fort and the obelisk which are the oldest preserved monuments on the site. To complete the set, several cannons were placed near the fort, two of which had explanatory plaques.
Although great interest was shown by Americans, Cubans, Spaniards and citizens of many countries, the historical site was neglected and its road could not be repaired for a long time due to the financial difficulties of the Santiago de Cuba City Council. Between 1910 and 1920, this situation attracted the reaction of war veterans and many Cubans those who lost their relatives in this area.
In 1922, the U.S. State Legislature of Massachusetts approved a loan of 2.000 pesos for the erection of a monument in Santiago de Cuba commemorating the soldiers of the Second and Ninth Regiments who lost their lives during the Cuban-Spanish-American War.
In 1923, a ceremony was held in the presence of a commission from Massachusetts, attended by Governor of Oriente José Ramón Barceló and some civil, military, and religious authorities, and plaques featuring the work of the sculptor Raymond Averill Porter, were placed on both sides of the entrance door of the reception hall of the Government Palace accompanied by the national anthems of both countries. In 1930, Colonel José González Valdés convinced Santiago de Cuba City Council President José Castro Palomino and US Consul Edward Natham to place these plates in the historical site on San Juan Hill.
In 1924, Louis Culliver, a Spanish-American War veteran and New York state senator, made a proposal to erect a monument in the San Juan area. This monument would be a monument with the name Unnamed American Soldier, depicting a soldier from the 71st Regiment of New York Volunteers. Accordingly, the states participating in the war would bear the cost of 10.000 dollars. At the end of the same year, a commission was established under the chairmanship of Captain Walter Joyce, who visited Cuba to determine the location of the monument to be erected. The monument was designed by Joseph Pollia, an artist of Italian origin living in the United States. In 1926, the work was unveiled at a ceremony attended by Colonel José González Valdés, Chief of the Oriente Military District, and several speakers.