Parque de Bombas is an iconic building located right on Plaza Las Delicias in the old historical section of Ponce. Its name literally translated means “Pump Park”. Originally built in 1882, it was the main exhibit hall for the Exhibition Trade Fair of 1882. It was designed by Lt. Colonel Maximo de Meana y Guridi. After serving its purpose as an exhibit hall, a few walls were removed and it was repurposed as a firehouse in 1883 and staffed by a group of volunteer firefighters. In 1885 it was officially renamed Estación de Bomberas de Ponce.
Just a few short years after its inception as a firehouse, on January 25th of 1899, the Estación de Bomberas played an important role in fighting El Polvorín (translated the Powder Keg), one of the most infamous fires in Ponce’s history. El Polvorín had the potential to destroy the entire city of Ponce. If not for the fearlessness of firefighters, it would have.
In 1960 a new firehouse was built as the new main firehouse for Ponce and the Estación de Bomberas, became a secondary station. In 1984 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Estación continued to operate as a firehouse until 1990. After 108 years of operation, it was decommissioned, converted into a museum, and renamed Parque de Bombas.
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