San Juan Preserva
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San Juan Preserva
Protegemos nuestro legado / Protecting our heritage
A community movement to protect, restore, and sustain the architectural, cultural, and artistic heritage of San Juan for future generations.
Our Mission: Preservation Through Action
At San Juan Preserva, we believe preservation is not nostalgia—it's a commitment to identity, dignity, and community. Our mission is to protect, restore, and sustain the architectural, cultural, and artistic heritage of San Juan for future generations.
We understand that every cobblestone street, every colonial facade, and every artisan's hand tells the story of who we are. Through direct action, transparent funding, and community-led projects, we're ensuring that the soul of San Juan doesn't fade under the pressures of modernization.
Our work goes beyond restoring walls—we preserve the lives, traditions, and stories behind them. By combining local craftsmanship with digital storytelling, we create lasting change that honors our past while securing our future.
The Challenge We Face
Disappearing Heritage
Historical structures throughout Old San Juan are crumbling from neglect or being demolished entirely. Without immediate intervention, we risk losing irreplaceable pieces of our architectural identity forever.
Misallocated Resources
Too often, restoration funding is diverted to marketing and branding rather than actual preservation work. The result is beautiful promises with little tangible progress on the ground.
Lost Local Stories
Commercial development projects overlook the artisans, craftspeople, and community members whose skills and knowledge are essential to authentic restoration. Their voices deserve to be heard and their expertise valued.
The consequence is clear: our city's soul is fading. Modernization without preservation erases the distinctive character that makes San Juan unique. We cannot allow our heritage to become a casualty of progress.
Our Solution: Preserve Through Action and Story
We combine the wisdom of local craftsmanship with the power of community organizing and digital storytelling to create measurable, lasting impact.
Restore Heritage Buildings
We identify endangered structures and mobilize resources to bring them back to life, using traditional techniques and authentic materials.
Train Local Artisans
We invest in the next generation by providing training programs that pass down heritage crafts, ensuring these vital skills don't disappear.
Educate and Engage
Through workshops, digital archives, and storytelling, we help residents and visitors understand why preservation matters and how they can contribute.
Transparent Funding
Every donation is tracked and reported publicly. You see exactly where your contribution goes and the tangible results it creates in our community.
Core Principles That Guide Us
Action First
We restore, not just talk. Every project we undertake produces visible, tangible results. Real change happens when we roll up our sleeves and get to work, not when we sit in meetings discussing possibilities.
Story as Structure
We preserve not only walls but the lives behind them. Each restoration project honors the artisans, families, and communities who built and maintained these spaces. Their stories become part of the preservation itself.
Transparency Always
90% of every donation goes directly to preservation work and artisan compensation. The remaining 10% covers essential operations. You can track every peso through our public dashboard and see exactly how your support makes a difference.
Local Empowerment
Puerto Ricans lead this effort—artisans, architects, historians, and community members drive every decision. This is our heritage, and we are the ones best equipped to preserve it authentically and respectfully.
How We Work: Our Four-Step Approach
01
Identify Heritage Sites
We conduct surveys and work with community members to identify structures in need of restoration or documentation. Priority is given to sites at greatest risk of loss.
02
Connect Local Artisans
We partner with skilled craftspeople who understand traditional techniques—ironworkers, masons, tile specialists, woodworkers—ensuring authentic restoration that honors original methods.
03
Share Their Stories
Through our digital platform, educational events, and community workshops, we document and share the human stories behind each project, creating a living archive of San Juan's heritage.
04
Track Progress
Every project includes detailed financial reporting, milestone tracking, and photo documentation. Our transparency dashboard shows real-time updates, so supporters see their impact immediately.
Key Projects Underway
Each initiative represents a commitment to preserving a piece of San Juan's soul. From ornate ironwork to public monuments, these projects combine craftsmanship, community, and cultural memory.
Old Gate Restoration
In Progress
Restoring the intricate colonial ironwork on Calle San Sebastián. Master metalworkers are carefully repairing and preserving original details, ensuring this historic entrance maintains its beauty for generations.
Bronze Revival
Phase 1 Complete
Cleaning and preserving public bronze fixtures throughout Old San Juan. Phase one has successfully restored twelve pieces, with detailed documentation of original craftsmanship techniques.
Cultural Archive
Launching Q1
Building a comprehensive digital record of San Juan's artisan history, including interviews, photographs, and technique demonstrations. This living archive ensures knowledge passes to future generations.
Preserva Workshops
Planning
Training programs for youth in heritage crafts including masonry, ironwork, tile setting, and woodworking. These hands-on workshops create employment pathways while preserving vital skills.
Current Projects: See the Work in Motion
These initiatives are actively underway right now. Each project moves us closer to a fully preserved and celebrated San Juan. Click any project to see detailed progress, photos, and how you can contribute.
1
1
Bronze Revival
Active
Quoting & Funding Phase
Cleaning and preserving public bronze fixtures throughout Old San Juan with detailed documentation of original craftsmanship techniques.
2
2
Digital Twin Project - Digital Twin Ongoing Preservation
Creating comprehensive digital records and 3D documentation of San Juan's heritage sites to ensure preservation knowledge for future generations.
3
3
Public Beautification Initiative - Ongoing Restoration & Cleaning
Continuous beautification, restoration, and cleaning of public areas throughout Old San Juan to maintain the historic district's beauty.
4
4
Book of San Juan
Funding & Promotion
Supporting the publication and promotion of Andi Rivera's "Book of San Juan," a vital project capturing the untold stories and intricate details of the city's rich heritage, seeking funding to bring this essential work to life.
Together we keep momentum going—join us in protecting San Juan's heritage through action.
Community Impact by the Numbers
Every statistic represents a person employed, a skill preserved, or a piece of history saved. These numbers reflect real lives and real change in our community.
20+
Artisans Employed
Master craftspeople and apprentices working on active restoration projects, earning fair wages while practicing traditional techniques.
5
Heritage Sites Restored
Completed projects ranging from colonial gates to bronze monuments, each one returned to its original beauty and structural integrity.
3+
Institutional Partners
Collaborative relationships with local universities, cultural foundations, and preservation organizations amplify our reach and impact.
100%
Transparent Reporting
Every donation tracked and reported publicly through our online dashboard, showing exactly where funds go and what they accomplish.
But our impact goes beyond numbers. We're rebuilding trust in community-led preservation, creating economic opportunities for local artisans, and ensuring that San Juan's distinctive character endures for generations. Each project strengthens the bonds between past and present, tradition and innovation.
How You Can Make a Difference
Support Our Work
Every contribution directly funds restoration projects and artisan employment. Your support creates visible, lasting change in San Juan's historic neighborhoods.
Donate
Financial contributions fund materials, artisan wages, and project operations. 90% goes directly to preservation work.
Volunteer
Join site documentation teams, educational workshops, or community events. Your time and skills matter.
Document
Help build our cultural archive by contributing photographs, stories, or family histories connected to San Juan's heritage.
Share
Spread the word about our mission through social media, community networks, and word of mouth. Awareness builds momentum.
Get in Touch
We welcome questions, partnership inquiries, and nominations for future restoration projects. Join us in protecting San Juan's legacy.
Website: preservsanjuan.org
Location: Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Donation Tiers: Choose Your Impact
Every level of support makes a tangible difference. Choose the contribution level that works for you, knowing that your donation directly funds preservation and artisan employment.
All donations are tax-deductible where applicable. You'll receive detailed reports showing exactly how your contribution was used and the specific impact it created. Transparency isn't just a value—it's our promise to you.
"Every contribution keeps San Juan's legacy alive. Together, we're not just preserving buildings—we're protecting the soul of our community."
We're Not Preserving the Past—We're Securing the Future
San Juan Preserva exists because we believe our heritage deserves more than nostalgia—it deserves action, investment, and unwavering commitment. Every restored gate, every trained artisan, and every documented story represents our collective determination to honor where we come from while building where we're going.
This work belongs to all of us. Whether you're a lifelong resident, a concerned visitor, or someone who simply believes in the power of cultural preservation, you have a role to play. Our heritage is not a museum piece—it's a living, breathing part of our daily lives that must be actively protected and celebrated.
Thank you for protecting our heritage. Together, we ensure that future generations inherit a San Juan that honors its past while embracing its future.
San Juan Preserva—Protegemos nuestro legado / Protecting our heritage