Any destination with a history as rich as Puerto Rico's is bound to have its share of quirky events, unusual moments and unique discoveries. Drowned "gods," ancient burial sites and even mongooses have contributed to the historical oddities to be found on the island today.
1. Why The 1598 Attack Failed
Photo © Zain Deane
As a prized military outpost, Puerto Rico saw a lot of action from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Assaulted by the British, the Dutch, and Indian tribes, it suffered its share of wins and losses. One of its closest calls came in 1598, when George Clifford, the Earl of Cumberland finally managed to defeat El Morro. Realizing a naval assault would never conquer the mighty fort, the Earl led a land assault and captured the fortress. The British won the island and held it for several months, before they encountered a foe even deadlier than the Spanish. An outbreak of dysentery crippled Cumberland’s forces, and he was forced to leave the island.
2. A 4,000-Year-Old-Skeleton
Photo © Zain Deane
In 1990, an archaeological dig on the island of Vieques unearthed a remarkable find. Amid an almost alien landscape of massive boulders strewn around a green field, archaeologists discovered a male skeleton that was found to be more than 4,000 years old. He is believed to be one of a pre-ceramic and pre-agricultural people who lived here long before the Taíno. The site is easily accessible to visitors, and although nothing of the dig remains, there is still a quiet mystery to the place that makes it a popular and intriguing stop.
3. The "Drowning" of A God
For the most part, the Taíno Indians who lived in Puerto Rico when Columbus showed up were subjugated without much resistance by the Spanish in the 1500s. This was partly due to the natives' belief that the metal-clad conquistadores were immortal. In 1511, however, the Taíno fought back. What sparked the revolt? Well, the Taíno decided to test the divinity of the newcomers. They held a Spanish soldier named Diego Salcedo underwater to see what would happen. Poor Diego promptly drowned, proving rather definitvely that the strangers were men after all (although it is said that the Indians watched his body for several days after he drowned, just to make sure). The rebellion was easily put down and never repeated.4. The Headquarters of the Inquisition
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Since the early 1500s, the Catholic Church has played a central and all-important role in the history and development of Puerto Rico. The oldest church still in use in the Americas, the Iglesia de San José was built in San Juan in 1522. In 1519, Pope Leo X declared Puerto Rico the first ecclesiastical headquarters in the New World. In doing so, he also made it the epicenter of the Church's most barbaric and infamous institution: The Spanish Inquisition.
5. The Tomb of Ponce de León
Photo © Zain Deane
Not many know that Juan Ponce de León was Puerto Rico's founding father, at least as far as Spanish interests were concerned. The explorer is much better known for his ultimately fruitless search for The Fountain of Youth, which took him to Florida. He died on his quest, but he lies entombed in marble at the San Juan Cathedral. (He was originally in the Iglesia de San José but was moved to the cathedral in 1908). If you're in Old San Juan, make sure to visit one of history's most well-known legend-chasers.
6. Sir Francis Drake's Failure
We all know who Sir Francis Drake was: essentially a pirate, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his notable exploits against Spain. Most famous of these, of course, was his attack on The Spanish Armada in 1588. But there was one target that Sir Drake never captured, despite repeated attempts: Puerto Rico. Drake led an assault on the island in 1595, but El Morro's stout defenses proved the better of him. In fact, one of the fort's cannons hit Drake's flagship during the battle, but he survived and retreated without achieving his goal.7. Puerto Rico's Pirate
Pirates and privateers were in no short supply during the era of the conquistadores, but in Puerto Rico none achieved the fame of native son Roberto Cofresí. Born in Cabo Rojo, Cofresí made his career choice in 1818 and spent the better part of seven years harrying ships around the island. He was especially hard on U.S. and Spanish ships. He was also known as something of a Robin Hood character, sharing his booty with local villagers who in exchange sheltered him from Spanish troops. In fact, it is rumored that Cofresí's treasure still lies buried under Puerto Rican soil. He was eventually captured and executed in 1825 on the grounds in front of El Morro.8. Simón Bolivar's Detour
Simón Bolivar is one of the most celebrated heroes of Latin America. "The Great Liberator," as he is known, led the struggle for independence against Spain in the 19th Century and became president of not one, but four countries (Venezuela, Gran Colombia, Peru and Bolivia). While romping through Latin America, Bolivar made an unscheduled pitstop at Vieques. In 1816, after losing a battle in Venezuela, he was escaping for the shelter of Dutch-owned St. Thomas when his ship ran aground off the coast of Vieques. He was forced to go ashore to gather provisions before continuing his journey. Vieques remains the only patch of Puerto Rican soil "visited" by Bolivar, and the event is commemorated today by a bust in the main plaza of Isabel II.9. Imported Mongooses
A trip to the El Yunque rainforest will yield many beautiful sights, twittering birdsongs and invigorating hikes. What you won't see is any impressive fauna. There are no large mammals native to Puerto Rico; cows, pork and other livestock were introduced by the Spanish. However, they weren't the only animals to be imported to the island. In the 18th Century, mongooses were brought to Puerto Rico. Why? To help control the rampant rat population that had plagued the sugar plantations. Sugar was the island's principal export, and it would seem that no expense (or mongoose) was spared to ensure its efficient production.10. The Year of the Coconut
Photo © Zain Deane
Caribbean island and coconuts go hand in hand, don't they ... the image of coconut trees framing idyllic beaches and delicious cocktails served in a hollowed out coconut shell is endemic to our Caribbean vacation fantasies. Well, the coconut, like so many other fruits found in South America, isn't native to this part of the world. In Puerto Rico, the coconut tree made its debut in 1542. Imported by the Spanish from the far east, the coconut gradually became a staple of the island's diet, and can still be found in one of the most famous drinks in the world: The Puerto Rican-born piña colada.
