History of Arecibo, Puerto Rico in Timeline
Arecibo, situated on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, stands as the largest municipality by area. Positioned west of San Juan, this city serves as the central hub of the Arecibo Metropolitan Statistical Area. Encompassing 18 barrios and Arecibo Pueblo, the city boasts a population exceeding 87,000. Renowned for its expansive territory, Arecibo holds a prominent position within Puerto Rico.
1918: Earthquake damages Cathedral of Saint Philip the Apostle
The 1918 earthquake severely damaged the vault of the Cathedral of Saint Philip the Apostle, leading to its replacement with a flat concrete roof and an interior vaulted ceiling made of composition board.
1918: Earthquake damages Arecibo City Hall
The frontal section of Arecibo's City Hall, built in 1866, was destroyed in the 1918 earthquake. During repairs, a tower and clock were added.
1959: Capitanes claim their first BSN championship
The Capitanes basketball team secured their first ever BSN national championship in 1959.
1964: Punta Los Morrillos Lighthouse automated
The Punta Los Morrillos Lighthouse, built by the Spanish in 1898, was automated in 1964 and remains in operation today.
1968: Arecibo adopts official flag and coat of arms
Arecibo officially adopted its flag and coat of arms in 1968 through Resolution 12, passed by the Arecibo government.
1974: Arecibo Message transmitted
The Arecibo telescope was utilized in 1974 to transmit the Arecibo Message, a message directed towards space.
1978: Arecibo City Hall restored
In 1978, the Arecibo City Hall underwent restoration, returning it to its original form.
1983: Lobos achieve historic double championship win
The Lobos baseball team won both the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico (LBPPR) national championship and the Caribbean World Series in 1983, marking the franchise's only instance of winning both titles.
1984: Dickie Thon suffers career-altering injury
MLB prospect Dickie Thon, who played for the Lobos and the Houston Astros, experienced a severe eye injury during an Astros game in 1984, impacting his career.
1996: Lobos secure another championship victory
The Lobos baseball team clinched another championship win in 1996.
1998: Puente Victor Rojas Collapse
In 1998, Hurricane Georges caused the Puente Victor Rojas to collapse.
2002: Capitanes' resurgence and semifinal loss
The Capitanes experienced a resurgence in 2002, reaching the BSN semifinals. However, they lost the series to the Vaqueros de Bayamón despite initially leading 3-0.
2005: Capitanes end championship drought
The Capitanes won the BSN national championship in 2005, defeating the Vaqueros de Bayamón in a four-game sweep, ending a 46-year championship drought.
2007: Capitanes fall short in the finals
In 2007, the Capitanes reached the BSN finals but were defeated by the Cangrejeros de Santurce in a closely contested seven-game series, with the final game going into overtime.
2008: Capitanes secure their third BSN championship
The Capitanes won their third BSN national championship in 2008, this time against the Gigantes de Carolina.
2010: Census reveals Arecibo's demographic makeup
According to the 2010 Census, Arecibo's population was 99% Hispanic, with 78% identifying as white (of European descent), 4.6% black (Afro-Puerto Rican descent), and 1.2% identifying as two or more races.
2010: Capitanes dominate BSN with fourth championship in six seasons
The Capitanes continued their dominance in the BSN, securing their fourth national championship in six seasons in 2010, defeating the Vaqueros de Bayamón.
2012: José Pérez Rosa and Angel Martínez elected as District Senators
José Pérez Rosa and Angel Martínez, both members of the PNP, were elected as District Senators for Puerto Rico Senatorial district III, which includes Arecibo, in 2012.
2014: Marginalized communities identified in Arecibo
In 2014, a map highlighting Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico, which are marginalized communities facing social exclusion, revealed that several barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods in Arecibo were included on the list.
July 2016: Arecibo telescope surpassed as world's largest
Until July 2016, the Arecibo telescope held the title of the world's largest radio telescope.
2016: José Pérez Rosa and Angel Martínez re-elected as District Senators
José Pérez Rosa and Angel Martínez were re-elected as District Senators in 2016.
September 20, 2017: Hurricane Maria devastates Arecibo
Hurricane Maria caused significant damage to Arecibo on September 20, 2017, including extensive flooding, infrastructure damage, and the loss of over 3,000 homes. Two hospitals were also damaged, and there were fatalities.
2017: Bridge Closure
The Puente Victor Rojas, a key bridge in Arecibo, was closed in early 2017 due to sea damage.
December 1, 2020: Arecibo telescope collapses
The Arecibo telescope, one of the world's most powerful radar-radio telescopes, collapsed on December 1, 2020.
2020: Carlos (Tito) Ramírez Irizarri elected Mayor of Arecibo
Carlos (Tito) Ramírez Irizarri of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) was elected as the Mayor of Arecibo in the 2020 general elections.
2020: Elizabeth Rosa Vélez and Rubén Soto Rivera elected as District Senators
In the 2020 elections, Elizabeth Rosa Vélez and Rubén Soto Rivera, both representing the PPD, were elected as the District Senators for Puerto Rico Senatorial district III, encompassing Arecibo.
2020: Arecibo telescope collapses
The Arecibo telescope collapsed in 2020.
2021: Bridge Reopening
After repairs, the Puente Victor Rojas bridge in Arecibo was reopened in 2021.
2021: Hilton constructs hotel in Arecibo
Hilton was in the process of constructing a hotel in Arecibo in 2021.
2021: Voy Turistiendo campaign promotes Arecibo tourism
In 2021, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo campaign to boost tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arecibo passport page within the campaign highlighted Cueva Ventana, Museo Casa Trina Padilla de Sanz, and the Arecibo Light House and Historical Park as attractions.