Caparra Archaeological Site
Caparra | |
The foundations of the residence of Juan Ponce de León, c. 1508 | |
| Location | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 18°24′18″N 66°06′51″W / 18.40500°N 66.11417°W |
| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003155 |
| RNSZH No. | 2000-(RMSJ)-00-JP-SH |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 28, 1984 |
| Designated NHL | April 19, 1994 |
| Designated RNSZH | February 3, 2000 |
Caparra is an archaeological site in the municipality of Guaynabo in northeastern Puerto Rico. Declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1994, the site contains the remains of the first European settlement and capital of the main island of Puerto Rico, specifically the foundations of the residence of Juan Ponce de León, the first European conquistador and governor of Puerto Rico. Settled in 1508 and officially abandoned in 1521, it represents the oldest known European settlement in the United States. The site is on the grounds of the Museo de la Conquista y Colonización (Museum of the Conquest and Colonization of Puerto Rico), which features artifacts from the area and other archaeological sites in Puerto Rico.