Panteón Nacional Román Baldorioty de Castro
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Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce
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The Panteón Nacional Román Baldorioty de Castro, previously known as Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce (looking north)
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 Location of Ponce and the cemetery in Puerto Rico
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| Location | Torres no. 1 and Frontispicio St., Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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| Coordinates | 18°00′57″N 66°37′04″W / 18.015833°N 66.617778°WCoordinates: 18°00′57″N 66°37′04″W / 18.015833°N 66.617778°W |
| Area | 3.7 acres (1.5 ha) |
| Built | 1842 |
| Architect | Nieto Blajol Iglesia (1864 project) |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP Reference # | 84003149 |
| Added to NRHP | January 5, 1984 |
 Location in Puerto Rico
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| Established | 1992 |
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| Location | Torres no. 1 &Frontispicio St., Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Type | Cemetery Museum |
| Owner | Autonomous Municipality of Ponce |
The Panteón Nacional Román Baldorioty de Castro (English: Román Baldorioty de Castro National Pantheon) is a tract of land in Barrio Segundo of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, originally designed as the city's cemetery, but later converted into what has come to be a famous burial place. Established in 1842, it is Puerto Rico's first (and only) national pantheon. It is the only cemetery dedicated as a museum in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Prior to being dedicated as a Panteon Nacional, it was known as Cementerio Viejo or as Cementerio Antiguo de Ponce, and is listed under that name on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The Pantheon is named after Román Baldorioty de Castro, a prolific Puerto Rican politician, and firm believer of Puerto Rican autonomy and independence. His remains are located here. The Pantheon also houses a small museum about the history of autonomism in the Island, and it is currently used both as a park and a venue for the expression of culture and the arts. It is called the Museo del Autonomismo Puertorriqueño.
Prior to being turned into a National Pantheon in 1991, it was known as Ponce's Old Cemetery, to differentiate it from the newer (though now also over 100 years old) Cementerio Civil de Ponce (Ponce Civil Cemetery). Built in 1842, the cemetery was enlarged in 1864.
On February 13, 1838, the secretary of the Municipality of Ponce met with civic leaders of the "Villa of Ponce" to discuss plans for building a new cemetery. The existing cemetery was in deplorable and bad condition, and it posed a danger to public health. Because the "Villa of Ponce" did not have the money to build the cemetery, a voluntary proportional contribution was established in which all neighbors were to contribute. A commission was named composed of one member of the Municipal Council and four neighbors of influence to open up a voluntary subscription, name a depository and to proceed with the construction of the cemetery until its completion. The project was to be carried out in a lot adjacent to the existing cemetery extending one hundred square "varas" (a measure of length equal to 0.84m. approximately). Named by vote to form the commission were the "Sor Sindico" '(secretary to the mayor of the "Villa") and the neighbor leaders Don Geronimo Ortiz, Don Tomas Souffront, Don Luis Font, and Don Mateo Maenamaxe. On February 26, 1838, the project was approved by the mayor of Ponce. However, it was not until 1842 that the project was started out with the contributions of the neighbors of the "Villa". In 1843, the cemetery was inaugurated under the auspices of the mayor of Ponce, Don Juan Rondon Martinez, also the first person to be buried there. In 1864 the cemetery was enlarged and repaired. The new work consisted of repairs and construction of the enclosing walls and pathways, construction of new niches and construction of a chapel and mortuary. In 1915 the cemetery was closed down.
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