#PB63
Ca. 1920s
22 loose gelatin silver photographs, each ca. 15 x 9.5 cm (5 ¾ x 3 ¾ in). All images captioned in negative. A few photos mildly faded, but overall a very good collection of interesting photos.
A collection of photographs showing Costa Rica in the 1920s. The photographs were likely taken during the shore leave of several American sailors, possibly serving on the USS Holland.
The photographs show the “liberty landing and welcoming crowd” at Puntarenas, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica; “Admiral McLean” (possibly Rear Admiral Ridley McLean, 1872-1933) and “city officials” in San José; and Costa Rican police officers posing with “American Patrol” made up of US Navy servicemen. A series of five photographs shows a trip on the now defunct Pacific Railroad (Ferrocarril al Pacífico), connecting Puntarenas to San José.
Several photographs are of San José. They show views of the Bellavista Fortress (built 1917, now home to the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica); the National Monument of Costa Rica; Iglesia de la Merced (built 1894); and a “native ice cream vendor.” Other photographs also show a “dam in Costa Rican Mountains” near San José; Costa Rican dwellings, and American sailors posing with a board advertising films showing in Puntarenas (“Regio estreno Vidrio Fragil” and “Siempre Adelante pore l fomoso [sic] perro Rin Tin Tin”).
Other photographs are snapshots of American sailors posing with local Costa Ricans.
Overall, an interesting collection showing Costa Rica in the 1920s.
