Fortín Conde de Mirasol

Spain began this small fort above the harbour of Isabel Segunda in 1845, largely to assert a claim to Vieques that other powers were not taking seriously, and never finished it; work stopped in the 1850s and it ended its Spanish career as a jail. It is generally described as the last fort the Spanish crown built anywhere in the Americas. Restored in the 1990s, it now houses the Vieques museum, with rooms covering the island's Taíno archaeology, the sugar era, and the long period when much of Vieques was held by the United States Navy, along with a gallery for local artists. From the ramparts the whole north coast and the channel to the main island open out.

History

The fort was begun in 1845 in the town of Isabel Segunda. It was listed on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1977, restored by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in 1991 and added to the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2001, and it now houses the Vieques Museum of Art and History and the Vieques Historic Archives (Wikipedia, Fortín Conde de Mirasol).

Highlights

• The fort - generally described as the last Spanish fortification built in the Americas.
• The Vieques museum - Taíno finds, sugar-era material and island history.
• The art gallery - work by artists living on the island.
• The ramparts - views along the north coast and the channel.

When to go

December to April is drier. The museum keeps limited hours, generally Wednesday to Sunday, and closes for lunch, so check before walking up the hill. Mornings are cooler for the climb.

What to expect

It is small and the museum is modest by mainland standards; an hour covers it. Hours are limited and have been disrupted repeatedly since the 2017 hurricanes. Getting to Vieques at all means a ferry that often sells out or a short expensive flight.

Nearby

Isabel Segunda is below; Mosquito Bay and the wild beaches are on the south side.

Key facts