Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico

The Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico, located at Avenida Ponce de León 1 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a Beaux Arts architecture style building dating from 1917. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.[1]

Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico
Location1 Ponce de León Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Coordinates18°28′5″N 66°6′41″W
Area0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
Built1917
ArchitectMontilla & Ferrer
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
NRHP reference No.77001554[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 22, 1977

[2]

History
Detail of roof

The Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico was the brainchild of a group of citizens, known as the Asociación del Casino de Puerto Rico, who requested then San Juan mayor Francisco del Valle Atiles a place to establish a new social club.[3] The building was designed by Montilla & Ferrer and construction began under the supervision of the Del Valle Zeno brothers' firm.[4] Construction for the new building started in 1913, with a budget of $80,000. Lack of funds caused the construction to shut down. Construction restarted in 1914, with the Jiménez y Benítez engineering handling the building work. In 1915, construction was halted once again, It was restarted a year later with sculptor José Albrizzio designing the interior. The Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico was finally inaugurated on July 24, 1917.

During World War II, the building was used as an officers' club by the United States Army. Shortly after the end of the war, in 1946 the building was transferred to the government of Puerto Rico, who turned it into the Escuela Libre de Música Ernesto Ramos Antonini.[5]

By 1955, the school was relocated and the building became the first headquarters of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña,[6] serving in that function until 1970. In the early 80s, the Puerto Rico Department of State converted the building into the Official Reception Center of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In 2010, management of the facility was turned to the Puerto Rico Convention District Authority, a government agency of Puerto Rico. The Convention District Authority manages a number of facilities in the Convention Center District, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, including the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

Features

Designed in a Beaux Arts style, the Antiguo Casino features gardens, balconies, moldings, white marble floors, and a grand central staircase. One of its distinguished features is the ballroom's twelve-foot chandelier. The building is also known for its use of mirrors in the interior decoration.[7]

The building has become a popular venue for weddings, particularly destination weddings, quinceañeras and corporate events.

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References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. A. Tarr (January 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico". National Park Service. and accompanying seven photos
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "La Escuela Libre de Música de San Juan P.R." April 28, 2012.
  6. "Gobierno.pr". ICP P.R. Government.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-02-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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