Walkway of the Presidents
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Paseo de los Presidentes
Established in 2010, the Walkway of the Presidents (Paseo de los Presidentes) is a linear park located along the south side of the Capitol building in San Juan. This living monument commemorates the historical ties and complex political relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico.
The walkway features life-size bronze statues honoring the U.S. presidents who visited the island during their time in office. Each statue serves as a marker of a specific moment in history, reflecting the policies and interactions that have shaped the island's governance and culture over the last century.
Situated on Avenida de la Constitución, the site serves as both an educational resource and a significant tourist attraction, offering visitors a tangible connection to the shared history of the mainland and the territory.
Key Facts
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Location South side of the Capitol Building
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Established 2010
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Features 9 Bronze Presidential Statues
Featured Presidential Statues
Theodore Roosevelt
Honoring the first sitting president to visit Puerto Rico in 1906. The statue depicts him in a confident stance with one hand resting on his right side.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
A rare depiction, this is one of only three statues worldwide showing FDR in his wheelchair. He is accompanied by his famous Scottish Terrier, Fala.
John F. Kennedy
Commemorating his 1961 visit, JFK is shown in a relaxed yet statesmanlike pose, with an open coat and a hand resting at his waist.
Barack Obama
The most recent addition to the walkway, installed following his official visit to Puerto Rico in 2011, marking a modern chapter in the island's political history.
Additional Presidents
The walkway also features Herbert Hoover (holding a hat), Harry S. Truman (hand in pocket), Dwight D. Eisenhower (saluting), Lyndon B. Johnson (standing tall), and Gerald Ford (carrying a pipe).
Visitor Information
Accessibility
The walkway is fully wheelchair accessible and located along a paved route on Avenida de la Constitución, making it ideal for walking tours.
Educational Markers
Each statue includes a bilingual plaque providing historical context and details about that specific president's visit to Puerto Rico.
Nearby Landmarks
Located in a rich historical zone, surrounded by the Monumento de la Recordación and the Holocaust Memorial, near Old San Juan.
Local Context & Nearby Landmarks
The Walkway is part of the Capitol complex. Visitors often explore the surrounding monuments to understand the full scope of Puerto Rico's governance history.
The Walkway of the Presidents stands as a verifiable historical record in San Juan. It physically documents the highest-level interactions between the U.S. federal government and the island territory over the last century.