San Cristóbal in San Juan in Municipio de San Juan, Puerto Rico — The Caribbean (The West Indies)
Three Flags
⎯⎯⎯
Tres Banderas
San Juan National Historic Site
| — | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | — |
Photographed by Don Morfe, April 21, 2012
1. Three Flags Marker
The National Park Service flys three flags over the fortifications at San Juan National Historic Site: the Burgundy Cross, the flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the flag of the United States of America.
The Burgundy Cross was the Spanish military flag that flew here during most of the Spanish Colonial period. It was adopted in 1506 by Philip the Handsome, King of Castile, to honor his mother, Mary Duchess of Burgundy. At that time, Burgundy was a territory of Spain.
Tres banderas
El National Park Service enarbola tres banderas en las fortificaciones del San Juan National Historic Site: el Aspa de Borgoña, la bandera del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico y la bandera de Estados Unidos de América.
El Aspa de Borgoña era la bandera militar que se izaba aquí durante la era colonial española en que las fortificaciones estaban activas. Fue adoptada en 1506 por el rey de Castilla, Felipe I el Hermoso, en honor a su madre, María de Borgoña. En esa época Borgoña era un territorio español.
Erected by National
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the Vexillology series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1506.
Location. 18° 28.044′ N, 66° 6.672′ W. Marker is in San Juan in Municipio de San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is in San Cristóbal. It is on Bulevar del Valle. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Juan PR 00901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is one of the Greater Antilles on the Caribbean Sea, on in the Atlantic Ocean, in North America, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Defense of San Juan / En defenso de San Juan (here, next to this marker); What About Water? / ¿De Dónde Viene el Agua? (here, next to this marker); Firepower (here, next to this marker); The Heart of San Cristobal (here, next to this marker); National Historic Site (here, next to this marker); Historic San Juan / San Juan Historico (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Escuela José Julián Acosta (about 500 feet away); Casino de Puerto Rico (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Juan.
Additional commentary.
1. Errors in the U.S. flag shown on the marker.
Interestingly, the U.S. flag is not the official flag, with the stars turned from their standard orientation. The overall dimensions of the flag are not
Photographed by Don Morfe, April 20, 2012
2. Three Flags Marker
— Submitted June 23, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.
Photographed by Don Morfe, April 21, 2012
3. Three Flags Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,079 times since then and 222 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 6, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
