The Wandering Disciple

For early attackers an attempt to conquer the fortified city of San Juan was a difficult task due to the forts strategically located in this colonial island city.  The first line of defense was El Morro, a fort built at the tip of the harbor to help protect the port city from attacks from the sea. Although San Juan had fallen into enemy hands twice in three attacks, the only attack by seas was successfully fought off in 1595, the remaining two attacks were overland attacks.  But with fort successfully withstood all of the skirmishes. Today El Morro and nearby San Cristobal can be toured as part of the San Juan National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service.  (Photo: October 23, 2006)

Fort San Felipe del Morro located at the entrance to San Juan Bay in San Juan, Puerto Rico has protected the port since 1589. Under Spanish rule until 1898, the fort has protected San Juan from attacks by the British, Dutch, United States and even pirates. It then became a United States fort and saw service during World War I and II. It was decommissioned in 1961 and became a National Park. (Photo: October 23, 2006)