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Fascinating Vintage Photos Show Life in Puerto Rico in the 1940s

In the early 1940s, United States began to establish military bases in Puerto Rico. During World War II, more than 65,000 Puerto Ricans served in the U.S. military.  Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company was established in 1942.

In the years after World War II, social, political, and economic changes began to take place to shape the island’s character today. In 1946, Jesús T. Piñero became the first Puerto Rican governor to serve the island. The U.S. Congress also passed an act allowing Puerto Ricans to elect their governor, and the first elections under this act were held on November 2, 1948.

Here are some fascinating color photos that show life in Puerto Rico in the 1940s. Also check, what Puerto Rico looked like in the 1930s.

#5 Man with ox team, Aibonito

Man with ox team, Aibonito

#8 Boy on mule with baskets, coconut grove, near Luquillo Beach

#10 Caguas street

Caguas street

#12 Cane mill, horse harnessed to winch, driver resting, the Piñones- Vaciatalega area, not far from San Juan

#15 El fanguito, Cataño

El fanguito, Cataño

#20 Dona Matilda’s house, Cuchilla

Dona Matilda's house, Cuchilla

#21 Drying coffee, pile of coffee on large concrete pad, two men with large wooden tray with handles

Drying coffee, pile of coffee on large concrete pad, two men with large wooden tray with handles

#25 Hauling stones in ox carts

Hauling stones in ox carts

#30 La Plata medical center

La Plata medical center

#34 Hospital door, crowd gathered around entrance to La Plata hospital, La Plata

#35 Morning fog in La Plata valley, La Plata

Morning fog in La Plata valley, La Plata

#38 Milk station, woman fill glasses on table for children, lined up

#39 Moving day, boy and donkey with load in tobacco field

#40 Ox cart hauling bundles of tobacco leaves

Ox cart hauling bundles of tobacco leaves

#45 Teatro La Perla on the right, Ponce

Teatro La Perla on the right, Ponce

#46 1Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) house

#47 Rio Piedras University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

#50 La Fortaleza, San Juan

La Fortaleza, San Juan

#55 Sheep in Aibonito

Sheep in Aibonito

#56 Sugarcane planters, oxen and steam tractor in distance

#58 Toa Alta. Toita Valley from cliff road, tobacco barns

#60 Tobacco nursery

Tobacco nursery

#61 Two men arranging vanilla beans on screened trays for drying

#65 Young couple under tree with Barranquitas, church in background

Young couple under tree with Barranquitas, church in background

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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.

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