Guanica & The American Spanish War

The Wedding Website of Arianna Smoot and Tucker Fortney

Imagine it’s July 25, 1898. Near the small town of Guánica from the horizon, a fleet of American ships appears, carrying about 1,800 soldiers ready to land on the island. The town itself is quiet. Spanish forces are few, spread thin across the island, and not prepared for an attack on the back end. The Americans disembark from their ships, their boots hitting the sandy beach of Guánica, and quickly secure the area. Remarkably, there’s almost no resistance. The locals watch as soldiers begin moving inland, taking the roads that lead to towns like Yauco, Coamo, and Ponce.

Spanish-American War

1898 - A New Chapter For Puerto Rico

The campaign unfolds swiftly. Spanish forces retreat, realizing that holding Puerto Rico is nearly impossible. Within weeks, much of the southern and central parts of the island are under American control. This small, quiet town on the coast—Guánica—has become the entry point for a turning point in history. By October 18, 1898, Puerto Rico officially surrenders. A few months later, the Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Spanish-American War. Spain cedes Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. And all of it started here, at this peaceful beach, where the world felt bigger than this little corner of the island. Today, if you visit Playa Santa in Guánica, you can still feel a hint of history beneath your feet, knowing that this quiet shoreline was once the doorway to a new chapter for Puerto Rico.

For all the days along the way

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Tucker & Arianna

Guanica & The American Spanish War

Spanish-American War