fort soledad

Home > General Information > Southern Site

Apra harbor l Asan Memorial l Asan Overlook l Bear Rock l Camel Rock l Cetti Bay Overlook
Cocos Island l Fort San Jose l Fort Soledad l Ga'an Point l Gadao's Statue l Gef Pago Inarajan
Glass Breakwater l Inarajan Village l Ipan Beach Park l Magellan Monument l Merizo Pier
Namo Falls l Pago Bay Overlook l Saluglula Pool l San Dionisio Church l Santa Kamalin Park
Sella Bay Overlook l Southern Mt. Overlook l Taga'chang Beach Park l Talifak Bridge
Talofofo- Falls l Umatac Bay Park l War in Pacfic Museum

Fort Soledad

Fort Soledad, located in the village of Umatac, is one of several Spanish Era forts where structures still stand today. Completed in 1810, just before the end of the Galleon Age in 1815, the fort was used as a signal tower and a security post to help protect Spanish trade in the area from pirates. The Acupulco-Manila galleon trade witnessed ships criss-crossing the Pacific, trading gold and silver from South America for silk, porcelain and spices from China. Spanish merchants would meet Chinese merchants in the Philippines to conduct such transactions. Guam was a strategic location, as it provided safe harbor and supplies for the crews that endured the long and dangerous trans-Pacific voyages.