Abby Epplett, Historian

At last, I complete my twenty-three post series on my trip to the Dominican Republic in June 2023. This sequel to yesterday’s posts shares more quick history stops on the streets of the capital, Santo Domingo, including a college building turned into a hotel, ruins of a monastery, and a poetic park. Monasterio de San Francisco On the north side of Ciudad Colonial and bordered by four roads (Calle Restoración, Calle Hostos, Calle Juan Isidro Pérez, Calle Duarte) was Monasterio de San Francisco [Monastery of San Francisco]. With construction ordered by Frey Nicolás de Ovando in 1508 and lasting until 1560, the monastery was the first of its kind in the Americas. The building currently stands in ruins, much like the first European style hospital in the Americas, nearby Templo y Hospital San Nicolás de Bari . Near the ruins was a plaque dedicated to the 50 th anniversary of the Dominican Civil War of 1965, when the American military overthrew the supporters of democra...

This is the penultimate post to the series on my trip to the Dominican Republic in June 2023! I spent several days in the capital, Santo Domingo, and visited many historic sites. The streets, or calles in Spanish, of Ciudad Colonial and nearby neighborhoods were filled with informative signage about churches, historic figures, and art.

During my visit to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, back in June 2023, I visited Parque Nacional Los Tres Ojos [The Three Eyes National Park] and saw Faro a Colón [Lighthouse to Columbus] along the way. The park is a great way to enjoy the outdoors not far from the city. While the lighthouse is not located in a safe space for foreign tourists, visitors can park briefly on the side of the road to get a picture. History of Faro a Colón Plans for a lighthouse dedicated to Columbus and built in Santo Domingo were in the works since 1931. In fact, Scottish architect Joseph Lea Gleave won a contest as a twenty-three year old for designing the best lighthouse for the spot. Despite early enthusiasm for the lighthouse, progress stalled when the consortium of countries who supported the idea did not lend financial support. A foundation was laid during the Trujillo Era, but no more progress was made. Gleave died in 1965, long before his lighthous...

Back in June 2023, I visited the sector of Gascue in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Also spelled Gazcue, this historic neighborhood is adjacent to Zona Colonial [Colonial Zone] and home to federal government buildings, museums, and public art. This area reminded me of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. I previously wrote about my visit to Museo de Arte Moderno de la República Dominicana [Museum of Modern Art of the Dominican Republic] and Museo del Hombre Dominicano [Museum of the Dominican Man] , two museums in this area. Government Buildings & Museums Palacio Policía Nacional [Palace of National Police]. The police website created an incredible, detailed, 34 page white paper written by Colonel Dr. Pablo Antonio Castro Ramirez in 2008 . The paper covers the history of the police beginning with the Roman Empire, detailing early Catholic kingdoms, and describing the Dominican Republic from early colonization to the present at...