Old Spanish military hospital in Ponce

The Neoclassical architecture of this one-story building features massive exterior walls, pilasters with Tuscan capitals, and a central projected portico with arched frames.

Built in 1896, this Spanish military hospital marked the final major construction project by the Spanish government in the Americas before the Spanish-American War.

The structure transformed into the Ponce Blind Asylum in 1905, providing medical care and teaching essential skills to visually impaired residents until the 1970s.

Located at coordinates 18.021389, -66.615, the abandoned building remains closed to visitors but stands as a registered historic place since 1987.

During its operation as a blind asylum, Dr. Guillermo Vives performed ophthalmic surgeries with a 95 percent success rate among the 95 resident patients.

Location: Quinto

Inception: 1896

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

GPS coordinates: 18.02139,-66.61500

Latest update: March 12, 2025 19:37