Santurce History: Then and Now

Historic Maps of Santurce

This map from 1911 by U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey shows Old San Juan at the left and Santurce at the right - not many reference points other then the square building which used to be the Department of Health at Stop 19 across from Ruben's Café and Calle Dos Hermanos/Plaza del Mercado area.

There is an excellent map from 1918 that shows Santurce in three sections:

1918 Map Section 1:
Condado, Miramar, El Gandul, Tras Talleras - from Condado Lagoon to Calle Condado (Parada 18)

1918 Map Section 2:
Condado to Parque Borinquen, San Juan Moderno, Hipódromo Racetrack and Paradas 18 - 24.

1918 Map Section 3:
Calle San Jorge (on map as Calle de Iglesia) to Sagrado Corazon, Monte Flores and Martin Peña Canal

Historic Postcards of Santurce

One of the best ways to appreciate the history of Santurce is by comparing vintage postcards to current photos.
In the future, we will add dates of the old postcards and full descriptions plus better 'today' comparisons:

Parada 12:

Miramar was the center of major resorts like the Hotel Eureka in the 1900's.

Postcard shows the neo-gothic church with the Hotel Eureka where the Hotel Miramar is now located.

The FOX Theater was one of the most glamorous in San Juan - now the site of the Hotel Miramar.

Postcard of 'Hotel Row' in the early 1970 with Hotel Miramar, Hotel Las Americas and The Chart House Hotel.

This photo shows the Hotel Miramar shortly after construction in the 1970's.

Hotel Miramar today.

Parada 15:

Ponce de Leon looking east toward Parada 15. Postcard from the 1970.

Similar scene today taken from the rooftop deck of the Hotel Miramar.

Parada 18:

El Fanguito was one of the largest slums cleared in the 1960's. Current site of Parque Central.

Parque Central - site of the old El Fanguito (the mud) slums.

Parque Central on the site of the El Fanguito slums.

Top Hat poster from the Metro Theater.

Stop 19 - the fence looks identical to the one at the old Dept of Health across from the Paramount Theater.

The vacant Dept of Health Building originally housed a Jesuit Facility at Stop 19. Next to the 'Big Blue Church' near Plaza del Mercado.

Parada 20:

Central High School constructed in 1925 in the Spanish Rennaissance Style. National Registry of Historic Places.

Central High School today is a magnet school for Visual Arts and Graphic Design.

The Georgetti mansion at Ponce de Leon and Calle Hipodromo - now an empty lot.

The lot once occupied by the Georgetti Mansion is now vacant at the corner of Calle Hipodromo and Ponce de Leon.

Plaza del Mercado

Plaza del Mercado

Plaza del Mercado today.

This is the area just before Central High School - from the cars it looks like the 1960's.

Parada 22:

Municipal Hospital - now the Puerto Rico Museum of Art

Puerto Rico Museum of Art on Ave De Diego.

Ponce de Leon at the site of Bellas Artes looking toward Ave. De Diego.

This is the current view of Ponce de Leon looking toward Ave De Diego.

Theatro Puerto Rico, across from Bellas Artes, currently used as a disco.

Today, the Teatro Puerto Rico is being renovated as yet another disco at the location opposite Centro de Bellas Artes.

The "Times Square" of Santurce.

Postcard of old Nilo Restaurant at Stop 22.

Flier of toy store on De Diego Avenue near the current overpass to the highway.

Mural on the expressway before the underpass at Bellas Artes before Centro Europa was built.

Parada 23:

Blanche Kellog Plaza at Ciudadela today.

Blanche Kellog Institute

Matchbook from Salon Orquidea Lamparas was located at 1510 Ponce de Leon during the 1970's.

The space at 1510 Ave, Ponce de Leon today nearing completion as Libros AC bookstore, bar and bistro.

Ponce de Leon at stop 23 showing old trolley car in the area of Ciudadela and Libros AC.

Parada 24:

Supper Club at 'Top of the First' with panoramic views to the beach. Still the First Bank Building - look for large windows on top floor.

First Bank Building at Ponce de Leon and Calle del Parque. Notice the panoramic windows on the top floor where the dinner club used to be...

Blackton Fifth Avenue - elegant lingerie store at Calle Del Parque and Ponce de Leon. Now BBVA Bank.

Today, BBVA Bank occupies the site where Blackton's used to be....

Ponce de Leon at Calle Saldaña showing Metropolitan Theater - now a church.

Ponce de Leon looking toward stop 24 in 2012.

San Mateo Church at Calle San Jorge and Calle San Mateo (one block from Ponce de Leon).

San Mateo Church in 2012.

Inauguration of Cinerama Theater as TV studio in the 1970's. Calle Bolivar and Fernandez Juncos - now Pao's Carpet Store.

Ponce de Leon near Leonardo's. The two buildings at right are still there, the wooden houses at left demolished to create Ave. Fidalgo Diaz. House at far left in location of Leonardo's. Roof at right is now location of Museo de los Santos building. Date may be in the 1950?

Ponce de Leon at Parada 24. House at left is current location of Leonardo's. Wooden houses in center demolished to create Ave. Fidalgo Diaz. Tall building is now corner of Fidalgo Diaz and Ponce de Leon. Date may be in the 1950?

Ponce de Leon near Parada 24/25 - should be in the area of Hotel San Jorge.

Parada 25:

Former Hotel Midtown on the corner of Calle Bouret and Ponce de Leon Ave.

Midtown Hotel is now an apartment building.

Parada 26:

Sagrado Corazon University

Sagrado Corazon University

Sagrado Corazon University

Sagrado Corazon University

Parada 28:

View of Ponce de Leon after the Martin Peña bridge in the early 1900's. Now near the Coliseum.

Ponce de Leon Avenue in Hato Rey, just past the Martin Peña bridge.