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| Established | 2004 |
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| Location | Santiago,Dominican Republic |
| Coordinates | 19°26′54″N70°42′10″W / 19.448247°N 70.70282°W /19.448247; -70.70282 |
| Type | History museum |
Fortaleza San Luis is afortress located near theYaque del Norte River in southwestSantiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. The Fort was the location of several battles during theWar of Restoration. Fortaleza San Luis has also served as a Municipal Prison and more recently the fort has been converted into a Museum.
The fort, throughout its history has been vital to the protection and control of the Dominican Republic's second city, Santiago, and by extension the entireCibao Valley region. After Independence fromHaiti and fearing a repeat invasion by Haiti, then presidentPedro Santana requested the re-annexation of theDominican Republic toSpain in March 1861. As such, Spain sent 4 infantries under the command of Colonel Ramon de Portal y Santo Domingo to occupy the fort. Santana's decision was not popular amongst a Nationalist movement and theWar of Restauration ensued. Dominican forces repelled the Spanish and by September 1863 the fort was recaptured by Dominican forces. After the restoration of the Republic, the fort was converted into a military school, which in 1875, graduated its first class ofCadets from Officers Training in the Yaque Battalion.[1]
In 1881, the fort added a newgarrison next to thearmory and in 1884, a Military Hospital was added to the fort. In 1886,President Ulises Heureaux gave as a gift toSantiago de los Caballeros a clock tower that was installed in the Fortaleza San Luis.
During the1916 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic 1,5004th Marines Regiment held the Fortaleza San Luis.[2] Later in 1924, after achieving the political goals of "stabilization" the4th Marines Regiment would leave the fort.
In 2004, the fort was renovated and converted into a museum. The project was funded by the government, the private sector and by a philanthropist. The first-phase of the project came at a cost of $83,966.00RD pesos.[1]
19°26′53.6886″N70°42′10.15″W / 19.448246833°N 70.7028194°W /19.448246833; -70.7028194