Church San José of Aibonito

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Church San José of Aibonito, on the town plaza of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, was built over the ten-year period from 1887 to 1897.[1] It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and on the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2000.[2] It has the distinction of being the last church building to be constructed under the colonial government of the Spanish Crown in the Americas.[3]

History

The first iteration of the San José Church on the main town square was built in 1825, a year after the official founding of Aibonito on March 13, 1824. The current church was built over a span of 10 years between the years 1887 and 1897 due to financial difficulties. The official opening of the church in February 1897 coincided with a state visit of General Romualdo Palacios, the Spanish colonial Governor of Puerto Rico at the time.[3]

San José is one of five churches designed by Puerto Rico State Architect Pedro Cobreros. It was built from 1887 to 1897 and includes two aisles and a nave.[1] It is also one of 31 Puerto Rican churches reviewed for listing on the National Register in 1984 as part of the Historic Churches of Puerto Rico multiple property submission (MPS).[4]

The parish church today is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Caguas.[5]

References

  1. 1.[1.2]Marisa Gomez and Ester Cardona (July 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Church San José of Aibonito". National Park Service. Retrieved December 22, 2016. with five photos from 1984
  2. 2.GOBIERNO DE PUERTO RICO, JUNTA DE PLANIFICACIÓN DE PUERTO RICO (December 7, 2022). "REGISTRO DE PROPIEDADES DESIGNADAS POR LA JUNTA DE PLANIFICACIÓN DE PUERTO RICO" (PDF). jp.pr.gov.
  3. 3.[3.2]"Nosotros". ParroquiaSanJose. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  4. 4.Marisa Gomez and Ester Cardona (July 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Thematic Nomination: Historic Churches of Puerto Rico". National Park Service. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  5. 5."Parroquia San José – Aibonito – Diócesis de Caguas" (in Spanish). Retrieved May 6, 2025.