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The Fortress City of Puerto Rico:
"Discover how the forts and walls at Old San Juan are restored"

My curiosity awakens every time I touch and closely observe the masonry walls at Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Which is the original color? What materials will I find inside the walls? I wonder how it feels to touch the raw materials.  Which is the wall’s texture after restoration?  How much time does it take to restore a section of a wall?  What type of specialist is needed?  Is there someone knowledgeable, skillful and available to restore the walls? Is it worth restoring the forts and walls in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico?

Imagine working in the construction of these walls when all of a sudden we are attacked by pirates or powerful enemies such as the British. The labor was staggering. At San Cristobal fort, more than 400 men a day were employed at the peak of construction.  It took more than 20 none consecutive years alone to build the San Cristobal and San Felipe del Morro Forts.

I participated in a workshop in the Mason Shop at the San Juan National Park Services about the basic procedures of restoring a masonry wall.  I was able to see, smell and touch the limestone during its transformation stages into a lime base mortal. A raw limestone is smooth.  During the “slayking” of the quick lime a visual show commences. Adding water provokes a chemical reaction that melts the rock and fills the air with steam. My hand feels grainy and sticky when holding mixed sand and lime. The lime mortar is storage and aged for at least 6 months.  What pleasant putty-like texture and fragrance!  Prior to restoration the wall felt rough. Its texture was pleasantly smooth after it was restored.  What a beautiful pearl-like color!

National Park Service Facility Manager, Mr. Edwin Colón-Ríos, leads a Puerto Rican masonry team in the restoration of San Juan National Historic Site for the past 23 years. They spend many hours studying the masonry walls’ composition at the laboratory. Perfection on the specialized application techniques is achieved by constant and arduous practice. Their passion, dedication toward their work and enthusiasm in preserving one of Puerto Rico’s World Heritage Sites (December 6, 1983) have led them to creatively adapted tools, a mortar miller, a jaw crusher, custom design an air filter system, and implement a working schedule to meet their restoration goals.

The knowledge acquired and experience lived during the workshop at the National Park Services Mason shop will be shared with the participants of the Legends of San Juan tour.

Spaces are limited and reservations are required.  Book today

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