Fort Brooke Military Reservation

The Fort Brooke Military Reservation is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico and consists of the Spanish-built El Morro and San Cristobal Fortresses.  The Spanish began construction of the fortresses during the 16th century.  El Morro was designed to protect San Juan from sea-based attacks.  San Cristobal was built to guard the city from land-based attacks.

The government first obtained the land for Fort Brooke Military Reservation from the Spanish by the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, following the Spanish-American War.  On June 30, 1903, an Executive Order reserved a 98.83-acre area that included the El Morro and San Cristobal Fortresses and associated works and improvements for military purposes.  Additionaly property was acquired between 1906 and 1951, totaling the site to approximately 115 acres where extensive housing and support buildings were constructed on-site through World War II.  During World War I and II, the military mounted three 4.72-inch guns and a gun emplacement with four 155-mm guns, along with improvements to the fortresses which included the addition of bunkers and pillboxes (concrete guard posts).  Munitions used or stored on-site included 4.7-inch ammunition and early 1900s Coast Artillery ammunition.  The artillery range consisted of approximately 86,000 water acres.

The land was determined to no longer be needed by the military, and between 1941 and 1978 it was turned over to the National Park Service, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Coast Guard as park facilities, public buildings, and government offices.  The National Park Service manages the majority of the land portions of Ft Brooke as the San Juan National Historic Site.

 

RECOGNIZE - The object you found could be dangerous.
RETREAT - Leave the area without touching or moving the object.
REPORT - Call 911 immediately.

Project Documents

Administrative Record

Administrative Record Index - July 2025

Community Relations Plan

Community Relations Plan - March 2024

Fact Sheets

Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Fact Sheet - English - June 2023
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Fact Sheet - español - June 2023
Remedial Investigation Fact Sheet - English - January 2026

Remedial Investigation Fact Sheet - Spanish - January 2026
Remedial Investigation Questions and Answers Fact Sheet - English - January 2026

Remedial Investigation Questions and Answers Fact Sheet - Spanish - January 2026
Remedial Investigation Community Survey - English - January 2026

Remedial Investigation Community Survey - Spanish - January 2026

Presentations

Systematic Project Planning Presentation - September 9 2025

Public Notices

Request for Information Public Notice - May 2010
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Public Notice - July 2023

Reports

Inventory Project Report - January 1993
Findings and Determination of Eligibility - January 1993
Archives Search Report - April 2003
Archives Search Report Supplement - November 2004
Site Inspection Report - June 2010
Revised Inventory Project Report - September 2013
Inventory Project Report - April 2023

UFP - Quality Assurance Project Plan - December 2025

Restoration Advisory Board

Restoration Advisory Board Fact Sheet - English - June 2023
Restoration Advisory Board Fact Sheet - Spanish - June 2023
Memorandum for Record - Lack of Sufficient, Sustained Interest - September 2023
Restoration Advisory Board Reassessment Public Notice - Bilingual - June 2025
Restoration Advisory Board Community Interest Form (bilingual) - June 2025
Memorandum for Record - Lack of Sufficient, Sustained Interest - September 2025

Status Update

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a Remedial Investigation of the Castillo San Felipe del Morro (also known as “El Morro”) within the Fort Brooke Military Reservation Formerly Used Defense Site (see the fact sheet for more information).

We will be available to discuss the Remedial Investigation between 2:00 and 6:00 pm AST on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the San Juan National Historic Site parade ground.  Feel free to stop by at your convenience.

For more information, email FUDS.PuertoRico@usace.army.mil or call 800.710.5184.

Contact Information

Toll-Free 1-800-710-5184
FUDS.PUERTORICO@usace.army.mil