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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.

#4 Four horses carrying bundles of tobacco, Aibonito

Four horses carrying bundles of tobacco, Aibonito

#7 Hauling cane, Asomante

Hauling cane, Asomante

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

#11 Cane harvest, 6 ox team pulling carts on field

Cane harvest, 6 ox team pulling carts on field

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

#14 Processional, Castaner

Processional, Castaner

#17 Good Friday procession seen from above, Cayey

Good Friday procession seen from above, Cayey

#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

#24 Hauling coconuts in ox-drawn cart

Hauling coconuts in ox-drawn cart

#27 House in Salto

House in Salto

#31 Girl in dress of vow to St Anthony, La Plata

Girl in dress of vow to St Anthony, La Plata

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

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

#37 Men carrying bundles of tobacco into barn

Men carrying bundles of tobacco into barn

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

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

#41 Oxen hauling tobacco

Oxen hauling tobacco

#44 Horse taxis, fire station, Ponce

Horse taxis, fire station, Ponce

#46 1Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) house

#47 Rio Piedras University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

Rio Piedras University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

#51 San Juan. Robinson School, Santurce

San Juan. Robinson School, Santurce

#54 School lunch room at Pulguillas

School lunch room at Pulguillas

#56 Sugarcane planters, oxen and steam tractor in distance

#57 Threshing tobacco seed

Threshing tobacco seed

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

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

Two men arranging vanilla beans on screened trays for drying

#64 Plants on wire, Yauco

Plants on wire, Yauco

#65 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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