In 1493 Christopher Columbus made his second voyage to the New World and discovered San Juan. By 1508, the Spanish had begun colonizing the land, but they quickly found themselves opposed by native people fighting to reclaim their land and other European nations ready to war over the island's precious resources. In 1539, the Spanish responded by constructing San Phillipe del Morro, San Cristóbal, and San Geronimo Forts. They held possession of Puerto Rico for nearly 350 years until after the Spanish-American War, when the Treaty of Paris granted ownership to the United States.

On February 14, 1949, San Juan was designated a National Historic Site. The park unit encompasses 74 acres, but equally magical places exist outside the forts' walls in Old San Juan, a town vibrant with unique architecture, salsa music, and colorful traditions that stem from Spanish, African, and Tainos (native) culture. Nearby, the Caribbean National Forest—or "El Yunque"—allows visitors a glimpse of the land as it was hundreds of years ago, with its dangling orchids, gigantic tropical ferns, and the endangered Puerto Rican parrot.

Don't miss out on ranger-led activities where visitors can learn about the lives of 18th-century soldiers or find out details about reconstructive work. Other must-sees are the breathtaking San Juan Cathedral—the final resting point of explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, the first governor of Puerto Rico—and La Fortaleza, the governor's mansion.

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