The Historical Side of Vieques
Vieques is known as “La Isla Nena” (little girl island) and “Isabel Segunda” (Isabel II). Vieques was founded in 1843 by Francisco Saínz. It’s 21 miles (34 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide, and it is 52 square miles (135 square km) in area. It was annexed to Puerto Rico in 1854. Vieques derives its name from the Taino Indian word for Small Island (bieques). There is a balance of beauty and history on this island. The now extinct Arawak Indians once lived here and it was used as a “haven” for many of the infamous pirates of the 17th century.
There is an excellent historical museum at the beautifully restored fort, El Fortin Conde de Mirasol, located in Isabel Segunda. This fort holds the distinction of being the last fort constructed during the Spanish Empire in the New World. As time went on, it also served as a jail. After its careful restoration in 1991 by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, the fort serves as the island’s main museum. Within the fort is housed the Vieques Museum of Art and History and the Vieques Historic Archives. The museum contains the Vieques Historic Archives, which includes thousands of documents and other materials related to Vieques’ history. Another historical landmark, the Punta Mulas Lighthouse, (also known as Morropó) was built in 1893. This old lighthouse is still functioning and protects the port. It boasts a reflector which was imported from Paris in 1895. The beam that extends from it can be seen from as far as 16 miles.
Snorkeling is excellent, especially at Blue Beach. The island is also the home of phosphorescent Mosquito Bay. This rare and remarkable phenomenon is caused by millions of luminescent dinoflagellates lighting up when disturbed by movement. The dinoflagellates, a tiny form of marine life, have characteristics of both plants and animals. A very interesting site to behold!
For more than 60 years, since 1941, the United States Navy was using this beautiful island as a testing ground. After pressure from the people of Vieques, the U.S. Navy left the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico on May, 2003. The U.S. Navy originally arrived in Vieques in 1941, taking jurisdiction of about 70% (27,000 of the island’s 33,000 acres) of Vieques. This land was used as a training area, complete with target practice using live ammunition and war games. As a result, Vieques has inherited a legacy of toxic pollution. In May of 1999, the U.S. Navy admitted that it had tested radioactive depleted uranium shells in the island. Vieques is a mixture of the old and the new. It can be reached by air or sea from the main island of Puerto Rico.
