Puerto Rico Then & Now (English and Spanish Edition)

Discovered by Columbus in 1493, ruled by the Spanish for 400 years, and now a commonwealth of the United States, Puerto Rico has a long and diverse history that is reflected in its architecture and landmarks. For more than 250 years, Casa Blanca housed the family of Spanish conqueror Ponce de Leon; it is now a museum and the oldest house still standing in Old San Juan. The Luis Ramos Gonzalez Elementary School in Caguas, built in the Art Deco style during the New Deal hasn’t changed as much--it is now serving as a junior high school.

 

In Puerto Rico Then and Now, vintage black-and-white photographs from the earlier days of the commonwealth are juxtaposed with beautiful color photos taken from the same vantage points today. Each photo is accompanied by illuminating text that appears in both English and Spanish, making the book accessible for speakers of both languages. It’s a trip around the island sure to fascinate anyone interested in Puerto Rico’s unique culture and heritage!

Jorge Rigau is a professor at the New School of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. He has worked as an architect in Puerto Rico and written many books on the architecture of the Antilles islands.