Ballaja Barracks, home of Museo de Las Américas
Learn about the importance of this architectural gem that serves as the home of our collection
Interior facade detailMuseo de Las Américas
Our headquarters is within the Ballajá Barracks. This historic construction of military architecture was the Spanish Crown’s last major project in all of the Americas. Its construction, which spanned from 1854 to 1864, was meant to house Spanish soldiers and their families.
The Barracks occupy 6 urban blocks in the Ballaja Ward encompassing the Morovis, Beneficencia and Norzagaray Streets; it served as the Spanish infantry barracks until 1898.
Vaults of the stairs to the second levelMuseo de Las Américas
With the arrival of the US army, the Ballaja Barracks was occupied by American infantry soldiers, and for some years it continued to house soldiers. Later on the barracks became the Rodriguez Hospital.
east side of Ballaja BarraksMuseo de Las Américas
Following some years of not being used, this monumental building deteriorated.
After years of neglect by the federal authorities, in 1976 the US government transferred the building to the Puerto Rican government, with the understanding that it would be used for educational and cultural purposes as well as a tourist attraction.
In the year 1992 Dr. Ricardo Alegria’s biggest dream, to inaugurate the Museum of the Americas, became a reality: a space to house different representations of Puerto Rican folklore, as well as that of our fellow countries in the American continents.
Interior facade detail at night by Marlene HernándezMuseo de Las Américas
The dream started with the opening of the Folk Arts in the Americas permanent exhibit, followed by the other permanent exhibits: The Native Peoples of America, Conquest and Colonization, and African Heritage.
Video clip: Welcome to Museo de Las AmericasMuseo de Las Américas
After a 30 year trajectory the Museum of the Americas now has new temporal and several traveling exhibits in which prominent Puerto Rican artists and artists from other countries in the Americas exhibit their works.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.