Old Spanish military hospital in Ponce

The Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce (English: Old Spanish Military Hospital in Ponce) is a historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the city's historic district. The building dates from 1896 or 1897. It was designed by the Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers. The architecture consists of 19th Neoclassical architecture style. The building is of architectural significance since it is the only one-story building of this style remaining in the city of Ponce and one of the best examples on the Island. Completed in 1897, the year before the Spanish–American War of 1898, this building was the last major construction undergone by the Spanish Government in the Americas. From 1905 to the mid 1970s the structure served as the Asilo de Ciegos de Ponce (Ponce Blind Asylum). As of 2020 the building sits abandoned.

The structure commonly known as the Asilo de Ciegos (Home of the Blind) was built between 1896 and 1897 to serve as hospital for the city of Ponce's military garrison. The Royal Spanish Engineering Corps constructed this building in the then popular neoclassic style which was common to the old San Juan area, but was not at the time prevalent in Ponce. This building, together with El Castillo (Ponce's Spanish military headquarters), Hospital Tricoche (Ponce's Municipal Hospital), and the Casa Alcaldía are the only remaining buildings representative of the Spanish Crown's interest in other areas of the Island besides San Juan. On 1 October 1905, the structure was re-inaugurated as Asilo de Ciegos de Ponce (Ponce Blind Asylum) to serve as the home for the blind adults in the city. It operated as a home for the blind until the mid 1970s, when it was closed. It had room to house 95 residents and, in the early 1910s, had a regular occupancy of 80. As a home for the blind it sought provide medical assistance to its residents, including ophthalmic surgery. Dr. Guillermo Vives performed numerous successful surgeries on its residents, restoring eyesight to approximately 95% of its patients. The institution sought to teach the blind skills to become independent citizens, and permanent housing was provided to those who could not care for themselves.

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