Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Borneo orangutan
Malaysia • 12 days, 11 nights
Wild Borneo: Secrets of an Ancient Rainforest
from
Pastel de nata
Portugal • 8 days, 7 nights
Portugal: A Culinary Adventure from Porto to Lisbon
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Glymur
Bones on display in the museum.
RSU Anatomy Museum
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The Phono Museum features decades of different sound technology.
Phono Museum Paris
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Ivan the Terra Bus
The Bus, the Myth, the Legend: Ivan the Terra Bus
about 24 hours ago
Pigeons were included in a series of 1891 illustrations entitled “Household Pets.”
What Makes a Pest a Pest?
2 days ago
Burros Alfa and Beto, seen here with Luis Soriano in 2008, have been helping the teacher deliver books for more than 20 years.
How One Man and His ‘Biblioburro’ Spreads Literacy in Rural Colombia
4 days ago
Price Tower
What Happened to Price Tower, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Only Skyscraper?
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Puerto Rico Coamo Puente General Méndez Vigo

Puente General Méndez Vigo

This ''hidden'' 19th-century bridge played a simple, yet important role during the Spanish-American War.

Coamo, Puerto Rico

Added By
CDVV86
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Puente General Méndez Vigo.   CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
Puente General Méndez Vigo.   CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
Puente General Méndez Vigo.   CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
The river.   CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the southern town of Coamo, Puerto Rico, lies a rather unknown piece of history. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary bridge that many vehicles pass over daily. However, those willing to look below its concrete surface will find a 19th-century relic that doesn’t appear on your typical tourist brochure.

The General Méndez Vigo bridge on the PR-14 highway was originally built in 1862 as part of Puerto Rico’s Carretera Central, or Central Highway. It's also known as Puente #173 and Puente Las Minas, the latter because its imposing 20 feet arch passes over the Las Minas river. The bridge received its name from General Santiago Méndez Vigo, governor of Puerto Rico from 1840 to 1844.

The masonry structure played a major role during the Spanish-American War of 1898. American troops coming from Ponce, led by Major General James H. Wilson, were heading toward Carretera Central. Spanish troops led by Commander Rafael Martínez-Illescas destroyed the bridge to slow down the enemy’s advancement. The plan worked at first, but eventually, Illescas was killed during the Battle of Coamo.

After the war, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) rebuilt the bridge the way it is today. The top of the arch is adorned on one side with a castle, the symbol of the USACE. On the other side, you'll spot a message saying the bridge was reconstructed by the Fifth Battalion of the First Regiment of the Corps in 1898. 

The General Méndez Vigo bridge is by no means a must-see tourist destination like El Morro, but instead a quick stop off the beaten path. Still, it's a small piece of history overshadowed by the paved road above. It's as if it's waiting for curious explorers who surely wouldn’t hesitate to take pictures under its imposing arch.

Related Tags

Bridges Infrastructure Urban Planning Hidden Plaques

Know Before You Go

As of February 2019, the road leading to the bridge is closed to traffic, but you can park carefully nearby and walk to it. There's a narrow dirt path at the end of the bridge leading to the stream below. Watch your footing, since there's trash and branches littering the ground. Taking the PR-14 highway is the best option as the alternate routes can be disorienting.

Community Contributors

Added By

CDVV86

Edited By

jsdempstersr

  • jsdempstersr

Published

February 28, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.callejeandopr.com/callejea/puente-num-173-general-mendez-vigo-coamo
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mendez_Vigo_Bridge
  • https://www.revolvy.com/page/General-Mendez-Vigo-Bridge
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Corps_of_Engineers
  • https://enciclopediapr.org/envira/coamo/
Puente General Méndez Vigo
Coamo, Puerto Rico
United States
18.079962, -66.357947

Nearby Places

Ruta de la Longaniza

Orocovis, Puerto Rico

miles away

The Ruins of Central Aguirre

Central Aguirre, Puerto Rico

miles away

El Cemi Museum

Jayuya, Puerto Rico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

United States

Places 55
Stories 13

Nearby Places

Ruta de la Longaniza

Orocovis, Puerto Rico

miles away

The Ruins of Central Aguirre

Central Aguirre, Puerto Rico

miles away

El Cemi Museum

Jayuya, Puerto Rico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

United States

Places 55
Stories 13

Related Places

  • The Holborn Viaduct as seen from Farringdon Street.

    London, England

    Holborn Viaduct

    London’s first road overpass is so old that it was originally built for horse-drawn carriages.

  • Ted Williams Tunnel Plaque

    Boston, Massachusetts

    Ted Williams Tunnel Plaque

    A dedication plaque on this Boston tunnel is a microcosm of a massive, controversy-laden construction project.

  • Southern side of the Seventh Street Improvement Arches.

    Saint Paul, Minnesota

    Seventh Street Improvement Arches

    This double-arched masonry highway bridge is the only structure of its kind in Minnesota.

  • The bridge has been in the open position for decades.

    Oxford, England

    Rewley Road Swing Bridge

    The remnants of this unusual bridge await an uncertain fate.

  • Mathematical Bridge.

    Cambridge, England

    Mathematical Bridge

    Local legend says Isaac Newton built this footbridge without any screws, bolts, or nails.

  • Vauxhall bridge “Architechture”

    London, England

    Vauxhall Bridge's Miniature St. Paul's Cathedral

    A tiny replica of the iconic London landmark hides on the side of the steel structure.

  • Henderson Waves.

    Singapore

    Henderson Waves

    The highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore looks like a series of undulating waves rising between two public parks.

  • Nebraska Bridge.

    Tionesta, Pennsylvania

    Nebraska Bridge

    For decades, it has disappeared and reappeared as water levels rise and fall.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.