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.
