The 6 Best Government Buildings in Ponce, Puerto Rico

The Ponce Historic Archive is the biggest collection of documents, letters, photos, microfilms and more , in the entire island. It houses over 300,000 files, each containing thousands of more items. Although most of its contents are Ponce related, there are also some collections dedicated to other Puerto Rican municipalities. Historians, professors, researchers, and more can be granted access.

Also known as "El Castillo", this old building is an antique military base that was constructed around 1894. It was built by Spaniards to serve as the main base for those stationed in Ponce, and as a defense from the American invasion of 1898. Nowadays, the structure is used as the campus for the Ponce School of Fine Arts.

The Ponce Credit and Savings Bank holds a lot of history. It was one of the two first established Puerto Rican banks, and the first one to open in Ponce. As so, it became one of the largest banking companies in the island during the XX century. Its building was constructed in 1924 and declared a historic site later in 1987. It now serves as one of the locations for Santander Bank.

The Font-Ubides House, also known as Monsanto Residence, is a historic building located on the north side of Castillo Street in Ponce, in the town's historic district. The building dates from 1913. It was designed by the architect Blas Silva. The architecture consists of 19th Classical revival and Art Noveau architectural styles. The building is of architectural significance for its aggressive incorporation of curvilinear forms and ornaments. The complete preservation of the original architecture of the Monsanto Residence, its unique design amongst the houses of Ponce, and its location within the historic urban core of the town qualify it as one of a series of grand houses and an integral part of the character of Ponce.

The Ponce City Hall is the oldest colonial building in the city, dating back to 1840. The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as "Casa Alcaldia de Ponce-City Hall." It was a jail until the end of the 19th century.