Fortaleza San Luis
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| Established | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Location | Santiago,Dominican Republic |
| Coordinates | 19°26′54″N70°42′10″W/ 19.448247°N 70.70282°W |
| Type | History museum |
Fortaleza San Luisis located near theYaque del Norte Riverin southwestSantiago de los Caballeros,Dominican Republic. The Fort was the location of several battles during theWar of Restoration.Fortaleza San Luis has also served as a Municipal Prison and more recently the fort has been converted into a Museum.
History
[edit]The fort, throughout its history has been vital to the protection and control of the Dominican Republic's second city, Santiago, and by extension the entireCibao Valley region.After Independence fromHaitiand fearing a repeat invasion by Haiti, then presidentPedro Santanarequested the re-annexation of theDominican RepublictoSpainin March 1861. As such, Spain sent 4 infantries under the command of Colonel Ramon de Portal y Santo Domingo to occupy the fort. Santana's decision was not popular amongst a Nationalist movement and theWar of Restaurationensued. Dominican forces repealed the Spanish and by September 1863 the fort was recaptured by Dominican forces. After the restoration of the Republic, the fort was converted into a military school, which in 1875, graduated its first class ofCadetsfrom Officers Training in the Yaque Battalion.[1]
In 1881, the fort added a newgarrisonnext to thearmoryand in 1884, a Military Hospital was added to the fort. In 1886,President Ulises Heureauxgave as a gift toSantiago de los Caballerosa clock tower that was installed in the Fortaleza San Luis.
During the1916 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic1,5004th Marinesheld the Fortaleza San Luis.[2]Latter in 1924, after achieving the political goals of "stabilization"the4th Marineswould leave the fort.
Prisioneros Notables
- Leopoldo Espaillat a Polo (1891)
- Don Máximo Grullon (1863)
- Aristides Patiño a Tilo (1891)
- Gral Evangelista Núñez (1874) Gdor deSantiago[3]
*
Renovation
[edit]In 2004, the fort was renovated and converted into a museum. The project was funded by the government, the private sector and by philanthropist. The first-phase of the project came at a cost of $83,966.00RD pesos.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Hechos históricos acontecidos en la Fortaleza San Luis".GasCaribe.net. 2005. Archived fromthe originalon July 9, 2010.RetrievedJuly 26,2010.
- ^"A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 4TH MARINES".Historical Division Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. 1970. Archived fromthe originalon August 29, 2017.RetrievedJuly 26,2010.
- ^Martinez, Rufino (1971).Diccionario biográfico histórico dominicano 1 821 1930.Editora de la UASD. p. 354.