It wasn't until 1786 that there was any written history of Puerto Rico, almost 300 years after the Spanish arrived. Christopher Columbus and his search for the silk trade route brought profound changes to the culture of the island with colonization. After Ponce de Leon's arrival, the country became a major stronghold as part of the Spanish Empire, especially the Port of San Juan. During the Spanish-American War, the United States invaded Puerto Rico in1898, making it a colony and a territory of the U.S. In 1947 the country became a commonwealth. In the 1950s great commercial industries contributed to the country's development as a prominent tourist destination which remains to this day.
Puerto Rico has a great significance in its geographical, political, commercial and industrial characters. It has limited representation in the U.S. Congress as an unincorporated territory of the United States. As an island 110 miles long and 40 miles wide, it is sizable and is centrally located in the Caribbean region that secures a United States geographic presence. Being located in a tropical climate, it has the added significance as a tourist destination, visited by thousands of people every year. It is also an agricultural country that has a strong commercial standing, as well as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and technological industries.
Features include historic places and encompass cultural and geographic landmarks such as the 1898 Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park with a museum, the Caparra Ruins Historical Museum & Park where Ponce de Leon established his 1508 settlement, or the Casa del Libro, an 18th century house which is a museum today for books and book printing and contains original Spanish documents. Other features include the Las Cabezas de San Juan State Park, located in a tropical rain forest and features nature trails and boardwalks. It also has El Faro, the Island's second oldest lighthouse. Popular beaches for swimming include Boqueron Beach and Caña Gorda Beach located in a little fishing village with quaint restaurants. Visitors will want to try some gambling at the "Old World" casinos such as El Conquistador, the San Juan Hotel or the Condado Plaza.
Visitors to Puerto Rico should take into consideration what may interest them when visiting the island, whether it is history, recreation, architecture, local cuisine, nature or preservation. There is much to explore and learn about this interesting place. It is possible to rent a car and tour the island on your own, depending on whether you are here for the day on a cruise ship or taking a holiday for a few days or a week. There are many brochures and guides that can help with planning a well organized visit to the island.
Puerto Rico is an exciting island. Even an evening at one of the magnificent casinos will take you back in time similar to Cuba's grand days of the 1920s. Explore Castillo San Felipe del Morro built in 1589 with mazes and tunnels, walk the streets of Old San Juan with its village style ambiance, admire the Spanish architectural buildings, take a self-guided tour of the Tropical Agricultural Research Station with its exotic gardens, buy some Puerto Rican coffee, and visit the 1521 Catedral de San Juan Bautista, a beautiful historic church. Of course, a few hours on one of the country's outstanding beaches is a must.
