Colonial Heritage: A look into Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic, on the Hispaniola Island of the Caribbean Sea. The city is one of the oldest colonial cities in the Caribbean Islands, as it is one of the first settlements in the New World, with Christopher Columbus declared as the first governor of the area.
Santo Domingo was nominated to the World Heritage list in 1990, however, recent removals of Columbus Monuments could call into question Santo Domingo’s colonial heritage. Christopher Columbus may have been the first governor of Santo Domingo, but many would agree his exploration of the New World is somewhat responsible for the devastation of native populations following the Spanish conquest.
Despite how many individuals currently view past colonial exploration consequences, it would seem unfair to dismiss their heritage contributions. To fully explore both sides of this argument, we shall examine the concept of colonial heritage, the impact of Christopher Columbus on Santo Domingo, and how the present community of Santo Domingo manage the cities’ heritage.
Colonial Heritage: An Overview
According to writer Pauline van Roosmalen, “The outlook, importance and value of colonial heritage are closely intertwined with and determined by conditions in the colony (climatic, economic, social). The fact that these conditions differ from those in the motherland contributes to and distinguishes colonial heritage as something different from (Western) non-colonial architecture.”
Assuming most former colonies in the western world operate under this statement, this ideal can lead to a persuasive argument to preserve the unique mixing of different cultures in a new area. However, this statement could also be viewed as problematic for colonial heritage, due to the erasure of native life through disease and European Imperialism during that era of human history.
In regards to Santo Domingo’s heritage, many of the original colonial structures in Santo Domingo are still intact, implying that the city does value the colonial heritage provided by Spanish exploration. Even with the devastation to native cultures during that time, these events helped shape the Western Hemisphere countries into what they are today, and much of that credit can be attributed to Christopher Columbus.
Christopher Columbus: To Revere or Revile?
As mentioned previously, Christopher Columbus was the first appointed governor of Santo Domingo, in 1498. However, he had made several poor decisions in regards to quelling rebellious settlers at the time, which resulted in his return to Spain and being replaced as governor in 1500. After Columbus passed away six years later, some historical sources say his body was transported to Santo Domingo, where he was entombed at the location known as the Columbus Lighthouse, in addition to a tomb created at the Cathedral de Sevillia in Spain.
In the present day, the Columbus Lighthouse serves as a mausoleum to Christopher Columbus, and his contributions to the beginning of European colonies in the New World. Even though Columbus was not a good governor in the beginning of Santo Domingo, the city seems to still respect him for his accomplishments in discovering the Caribbean Islands to begin with. After all, if Columbus had not discovered the Hispaniola Island, the Caribbean Islands and the Americas may not be what they have become today, best exemplified with the present community of Santo Domingo.
The Community of Santo Domingo
Despite the recent Christopher Columbus monument removals in the United States, the citizens of Santo Domingo show no signs of removing any memorials honoring Columbus for his contributions. In the Dominican Republic Society, these monuments are a representation of their country’s origin, which could be perceived as insulting if these memorials were removed or altered.
In addition to the monuments, the original perimeter, walls, and many structures of the city still remain from Columbus’s time, and most are kept in very good condition (UNESCO). With this information in mind, it stands to reason to believe removing elements of colonial heritage would be nearly impossible, as they are quite literally integrated into the city itself.
Conclusions
Arguably, the removal of Columbus Statues and Memorials in the United States would have a justifiable reason to be removed, because Columbus did not truly discover that section of the Western Hemisphere. In Spain and Portugal, they would most likely remain in place because they are the countries Columbus represented on his voyage to the Americas.
However, in regards to the community of Santo Domingo and colonial heritage, I think it would be ultimately beneficial to allow Christopher Columbus monuments, and remnants of the original Spanish settlement, to remain intact. These structures are critical to the history and heritage of Santo Domingo, and removal of these structures would be detrimental to preserving the heritage of the city.
