Constructed in 1521, Casa Blanca served as the initial fortification for the
San Juan islet and was intended to be the residence of
Juan Ponce de León and his family. However, de León passed away during an expedition to
Florida without ever residing in the house. Subsequently, it sheltered his descendants until the mid-18th century. Building began in 1521, following the move of the capital from
Caparra to San Juan (then Puerto Rico city). The first building was made from wood. For this process he contracted Spanish architects "who lived, or were passing through, Puerto Rico". General Roland H. Del Mar lived at Casa Blanca between 1961-63, attempting to restore it to its original form. The director resisted the idea and refused handing over the keys, citing that the Senate had assigned the ICP the task of restoring it bringing in the legislature because he knew that it was controlled by the opposition (the
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico) and would not revoke the arrangement. Prior to the competition of the work, the building hosted a concert in September 1970, attracting around 700 guests. The event marked the first time in the building's history that a large civilian contingent was allowed into the formerly official building. This delighted the director, who considered it "symbolic". It was noted that the multiple alterations "could not erase its somber, martial environment". Maps, furnishing, items and an ark that symbolized the task given to the Ponce de León family as guardians of the royal documents, were exhibited. A piece published by the
San Juan Star made the claim that José de Casanova had confessed to Otis R. Cold of the
65th Infantry Regiment that a secret room had been discovered under the floor, where a safe was housed before sealing it again. Alegría created the
Center for Advanced Studies on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean (CEAPRC) and housed it at Casa Blanca on August 29, 1977, loaning the historical jail and post office from the ICP for this purpose. The section was restored and retrofitted for educational activities. He also created a library of Puerto Rican/Caribbean works that began at 9,000 pieces. The newly formed Puerto Rico Endowment for the Humanities also received a space at Casa Blanca. The CEAPRC remained there a decade prior to moving it to the Seminario Concilar de San Idelfonso. The kitchen underwent restoration prior to the turn of the millennium. ==Features==