Santa Bárbara is the patron saint of artyllerymen. Gunners, like those who manned the San Juan forts, have sought her protection agains harm since the introduction of gun powder into the warfare in the 14th century.

Ordonez Rifle  

NORTH BATTERY - From this section of San Cristobal a 150mm Ordofiez cannon such as you see here fired the first shots of the Spanish-American War in Puerto Rico just before dawn of 12 May 1898. Modern steel barrel breechloading cannon like the Ordoñez replaced the muzzleloaders of the 17th and I 8th century when the forts of San Juan were improved in the mid-19th century.

Ordonez Rifle

 

Fort San Cristóbal | El Morro | City Walls | Cañuelo

  

San Juan National Historic Site, Fort San Cristobal, Norzagaray Street, San Juan, PR 00901
Telephone: (787) 729-6777
Last Update: March, 2000