This short educational film portrays the history of Puerto Rico through its Spanish governance and the shift to American rule while illustrating the rapid growth in tourism and industry of Puerto Rico and its surrounding islands. The film is produced by Coronet Instructional Films in collaboration with Frank E. Sorensen, Ph.D. – Professor of Education, University of Nebraska.

“Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands” title banner (00:09). Morro Castle in Puerto Rico, built in 1584 as a defense fortress over the harbor of San Juan (00:22). Views of the capital of San Juan (00:43). A large ship in the port of San Juan exporting sugar, fruits, and vegetables (00:55). Workers package pineapples for export (01:19). The Capitol Building of San Juan (01:28). Tropical beaches along the city’s waterfront (01:40). Tourists playing in a pool inside a luxury hotel (01:46). The large Puerto Rican industry of pharmaceutical companies (02:03). The old section of San Juan reflection the Spanish heritage (02:12). A map illustrating the Spanish Settlement of the Island in 1508 and Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Island I 1493 (02:29). The Christopher Columbus monument in Aguadilla (02:45). A statue of former Puerto Rican governor, Juan Ponce de León (02:55). Guanica Harbor on the southern coast of the island (03:12). A momentum commemorating the end of Spanish rule in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War (03:22). A map illustrating the end of Spain’s governing of the West Indies (03:27). A map of Puerto Rico and the surrounding smaller islands, hereunder the Virgin Islands to the west (03:44). One of multiple US military bases in Puerto Rico (04:38). A map illustration the strategic position of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands from the perspective of American defense (04:45). Farmers planting pineapples in the rich volcanic soils of their fields (05:16). Farmers working in sugarcane fields (05:37). Fields with vegetable crops for hotels and restaurants (05:57). Construction workers are building a new hotel (06:18). White sand beach on the US Virgin Island of Saint John (06:25). Scenic views of the national park on the island (06:32). Views of an industrial area from the Operation Bootstrap in Puerto Rico (06:39). Workers entering the newly constructed “Magna Tape Corporation” factory (07:17). Women working in a sewing factory (07:29). Footage from a metal-goods factory (07:31), from a chemical and pharmaceutical factory (07:34), and from a factory producing scientific instruments (07:38). Other Latin Americans visiting to study Puerto Rico’s model to a growing industrial sector (07:43). A poor area of Puerto Rico (07:59). Newly built apartments for the growing number of middle-class families on the island (08:12). A newly built school for children (08:34), a high school (08:40), and the University of Puerto Rico (08:44). The American influence on the island portrayed through cars, shopping centers, supermarkets, highways, and San Juan International Airport (08:53). Passengers boarding a flight to US mainland (09:19). The contrast between the Spanish history and the modern American development in Puerto Rico (09:47). A recap of the island’s agriculture (09:57) and the industrial developments (10:07). “The End” on screen (10:23).