in Places & People

Amazing Historical Photos Of Puerto Rico From 1930s and 1940s That Depict Everyday Life

4.9k Views 7 Comments

Puerto Rico is a self-governing island located in the northeast Caribbean Sea. It is primarily composed of mountainous and hilly terrain, and steep slopes cover one-fourth of the island. Christopher Columbus first arrived in this area in 1493, and he named the island San Juan Bautista, in honor of St John the Baptist. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Spanish people began to colonize the island. In 1952, Puerto Rico became a self-governing territory, and the U.S. granted Puerto Ricans the right to elect their own governor democratically. During the 1950s and 1960s, the island became industrialized, and the economy was shifted from agriculture to manufacturing.

Here below are some stunning historical photos of Puerto Rico from 1930s and 1940s show street scenes, landmarks and everyday life of people.

#1 Family of a FSA borrower, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Family of a FSA borrower, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, December 1941

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

#2 Train loaded with cane on a sugar plantation near Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Train loaded with cane on a sugar plantation near Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

5 Points
Upvote Downvote

#3 One of the mills in the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company plant, Ensenada, Puerto Rico, January 1942

One of the mills in the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company plant, Ensenada, Puerto Rico, January 1942

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#4 Proprietor of a small general store, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Proprietor of a small general store, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, December 1941

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#5 Women workers sewing dress in a factory, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Women workers sewing dress in a factory, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#6 Women in the needlework factory, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Women in the needlework factory, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#9 A worker making cigars in a small cigar factory, Yauco, Puerto Rico, January 1942

A worker making cigars in a small cigar factory, Yauco, Puerto Rico, January 1942

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#10 Native sailboats, San Juan, Puerto Rico circa 1906

Native sailboats, San Juan, Puerto Rico circa 1906

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#11 Calle de San Francisco, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1906

Calle de San Francisco, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1906

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#12 Cultivating tobacco at the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration experimental area, vicinity of Cayey, December 1941

Cultivating tobacco at the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration experimental area, vicinity of Cayey, December 1941

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#13 Agricultural workers on a sugar plantation near Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Agricultural workers on a sugar plantation near Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#14 In an apothecary store, Lares, Puerto Rico, January 1942

In an apothecary store, Lares, Puerto Rico, January 1942

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#15 A boy in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, January 1942

A boy in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, January 1942

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#16 A row of station wagons or ‘publicos’ waiting for loads and passengers, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, January 1942

A row of station wagons or 'publicos' waiting for loads and passengers, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, January 1942

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#17 The beginning of the cockfight, Puerto Rico, December 1937

The beginning of the cockfight, Puerto Rico, December 1937

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#18 Funeral of a child, Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Funeral of a child, Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#19 Interior of workers’ shack, Porta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Interior of workers' shack, Porta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 1938

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#20 Bird’s eye view of San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Bird's eye view of San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#23 Apartment houses near the cathedral in old part of the city, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Apartment houses near the cathedral in old part of the city, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#24 Family of a sugar worker living in one of the company houses behind the mill, Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, January 1942

Family of a sugar worker living in one of the company houses behind the mill, Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, January 1942

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#25 Priest who conducted a Mass and baptism and blessing of the houses at the tenant purchase celebration, Corozal, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Priest who conducted a Mass and baptism and blessing of the houses at the tenant purchase celebration, Corozal, Puerto Rico, December 1941

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#27 Burning a sugar cane field., Guanica, Puerto Rico, January 1942

Burning a sugar cane field., Guanica, Puerto Rico, January 1942

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#28 Workers in a tobacco field, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Workers in a tobacco field, Puerto Rico, January 1938

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#29 Child of a Farm Security Administration rural rehabilitation borrower in front of his house in Puerto Rico, December 1941

Child of a Farm Security Administration rural rehabilitation borrower in front of his house in Puerto Rico, December 1941

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#30 Gamecocks in the training arena in Puerto Rico, December 1937

Gamecocks in the training arena in Puerto Rico, December 1937

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#31 Women in evening gowns on waterfront, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 1946

Women in evening gowns on waterfront, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 1946

-1 Points
Upvote Downvote

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

7 Comments

Load more comments