Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce
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Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce
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 Location of Ponce and the Antiguo Hospital Militar Español in Puerto Rico
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| Location | León, Atocha, and Bondad Streets Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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| Coordinates | 18°01′08″N 66°36′52″W / 18.019026°N 66.614432°WCoordinates: 18°01′08″N 66°36′52″W / 18.019026°N 66.614432°W |
| Area | 1 acre (4,000 m2) |
| Built | 1896-97 |
| Architect | Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical architecture |
| MPS | 19th Century Civil Architecture in Ponce TR |
| NRHP Reference # | 87000770 |
The Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce (English: Old Spanish Military Hospital in Ponce) is a historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the city's historic district. The building dates from 1896 or 1897. It was designed by the Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers. The architecture consists of 19th Neoclassical architecture style. The building is of architectural significance since it is the only one-story building of this style remaining in the city of Ponce and one of the best examples on the Island.
The structure commonly known as the "Asilo de Ciegos" (Home of the Blind) was built between 1896 and 1897 to serve as hospital for the city of Ponce's military garrison. The Royal Spanish Engineering Corps constructed this building in the then popular neoclassic style which was common to the old San Juan area, but was not at the time prevalent in Ponce. This building, together with El Castillo (Ponce's Spanish military headquarters), Hospital Tricoche (Ponce's Municipal Hospital), and the Casa Alcaldía are the only remaining buildings representative of the Spanish Crown's interest in other areas of the Island besides San Juan.
The building is of architectural significance since it is the only one-story building of this style remaining in the city of Ponce and one of the best examples in the Island.
The hospital served the military community stationed in Ponce and in the southern region and could be used by the civilian population in case of emergencies and natural disasters, thus solving a social need in the southern part of the Island.
In 1905, this property was given to the state government to be used as an asylum for the blind. It gave shelter to the many poor blind in the south. Here they were taught skills that could help them support themselves in the future. In other instances those who could not be rehabilitated were given a home and free meals thus keeping them from the streets where they could be in danger. The social functions carried out in this building continued until the mid-1970s when the structure was closed. The people of Ponce consider this structure to be important to the community's history for its role as hospital and asylum.
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