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Plaza de
España: Built during the Spanish and early
American period, was the seat of the Spanish
administration from 1669 to 1899. For over two
hundred years, the Plaza de España served as
the seat of Government and the main residence the
leaders of three separate and distinct nations.
Evident by its style, the Plaza was designed by and
first accommodated the needs of Spanish Governors.
These European leaders occupied the Plaza from 1736
to 1898. Today, three principal Spanish structures
remain standing in the Plaza. There is a three-arch
gate that was the threshold to the Almacen or
Arsenal, the Azotea or back porch, and the
Chocolate House. The latter was a popular location
for meriendas. In the late nineteenth century the
United States attained control of the Plaza with
its Naval Governors inhabiting the grounds for the
next 43 years. While under U.S. command, the Plaza
again functioned as a residence, seat of
government, and entertainment complex. During these
times it was traditional for the U.S. Navy band to
perform weekly concerts, inducing villagers to
swarm to the Plaza to enjoy the music and to spend
a leisure day in the park. In 1941, when invading
Japanese forces maneuvered into Agana, only a small
group of local soldiers, members of the Guam
Insular Guard, resisted the advancing and heavily
armed Imperial soldiers. That battle was short
lived and it wasn't too long after that the
Japanese proclaimed the island occupied. The Plaza
again became the seat of government, this time for
Japanese civil and military authorities. In 1944
the Plaza was almost entirely obliterated by
American troops battling to liberate Guam.
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