Front: Rafaela Herrera (1743-178_), defender of Spanish fortress

Hostilities flared up between Britain and Spain shortly after the Family Treaty between Charles III (Britain) and Louis XV (France) was signed. The two countries went on attacking each other's colonies in Central America. The British was aware of the importance of Nicaragua for inter-oceanic communication. By now, Britain already had colonies around the world, and the efficient transport of goods and military personnel from one place to another was of paramount importance. Consequently, Nicaragua became a target for their attacks.

British strategy was to take over the Castle of the Immaculate Conception at the mouth of the San Juan River and thus leave Granada wide open for further attacks. The English army arrived at the Castle on July 26, 1762. The fortress commander, Captain Jose Herrera y Sotomayor, had just died suddenly a few days earlier. Lieutenant Juan de Aguilar y Santa Cruz was the second-in-command. The daughter of Captain Herrera, Rafaela Harrera, requested permission from the lieutenant to fire a cannon at the invaders. The siege lasted six days. During this time, young Rafaela Herrera inspired the Spanish soldiers to fight and took initiative against the British. On one occasion, legend has it that she threw into the water lighted bed sheets and tree branches that had been smeared with alcohol. It is said that the current took them onto the British anchored ships. After a few days of fighting, the English withdrew, fearing the reinforcements that would be arriving from Granada.

Back: Signing ceremony of abrogation of Chamorro-Bryan Treaty of 1912 with Somoza at center

Front: Jose Dolores Estrada (1787-1869), Nicaraguan general

Estrada lived quietly in the country for the first 64 years, occupied in the cultivation of his estate. But when the civil war broke out in 1851, he enlisted against the democrats in the revolution. He participated in the nine months' defense of the City of Granada, and was wounded in the battle of August 5, 1854.

After Walker and his followers captured Granada October 15, 1855, he retired to the northern department of Chinandega, and continued, with Generals Martinez and Fernando Chamorro, to oppose the forces under Walker's command.

After Walker was elected president in June 1856, and declared war on the rest of the Central American republics, Estrada marched with his little army to join the Costa Ricans. Estrada left the army after Walker was driven out of the country.

When the revolution of 1869 began, Estrada, although eighty-two years old, was appointed commander-in-chief of the army, and defeated the revolutionists in several encounters, but a few days before the final pacification, he died of fatigue.

Back: Medical clinic scene

Front: Rubén Dario (1867-1916), Father of Modernism and Prince of Spanish Literature

Rubén Dario wrote his first poem, The Faith, when he was only twelve years old. His first verses appear in the newspaper "The thermometer" in 1879. In 1881, the fourteen years old Dario wrote articles for the political newspaper "The Truth".

Between 1884 and 1888 Dario worked in the National Library as the private secretary of the president. He published many poems and stories, among them The Eruption of Momotombo, Emelina, and Blue.

Back: Classroom scene

Front: Cleto Ordóñez (1778-18__), Commandant of Nicaragua

Shortly after proclaiming independence from Spain in 1821, the provinces of the Central American Republic were in dispute over annexation with Mexico. In Nicaragua, the Governor, Miguel Gonzalez Saravia with the support of Bishop Garcia y Jerez, proclaimed annexation in Leon and in Granada Colonel Crisanto Sacasa proclaimed it. In Granada, however, Colonel Cleto Ordoñez called the people to arms against annexation, declaring Sacasa a traitor to the cause of independence. Sacasa was soon deposed and Ordoñez declared Nicaragua to be a Republic on January 16, 1823.

Back: Church of San Francisco Granada

Front: Jose Dolores Estrada (1787-1869), Nicaraguan general

Back: Hacienda San Jacinto