INGENIOS

Index
Introduction
Nomination Format
1- Identification of Property
2- Justification for Inscription
3- Description
4- Management
5- Factors Affecting the Property
6- Monotoring
7- Documentation
8- Signature
Map of Locations
Air Photographs
Topographical Plans
Architectural Plans
Pictures
Multimedia Presentations
Credits
THE ROUTE OF THE FIRST COLONIAL SUGAR MILLS
OF AMERICA
The Dominican Republic was the starting point of the fundamental
processes of the colonization and of the development of the sugar industry in
America.
The SUGAR MILLS of the XVI century constituted some of the fundamental
socioeconomic complexes of the colonization in the Caribbean, being the most
advanced industry of its period because of the diversity of activities that required
the agricultural and industrial production of the sweet and its derivates.
Sustained by the system of exploitation of the indigenous and African

manpower, requiring the presence of the specialized European manpower for its
installation and operation, the SUGAR MILL reflects the transfer of knowledge and
technology of the material, Asian, European and African culture in the genesis of
the American industrial heritage.
In consequence, the first sugar industries of the New World possess for
Humanity an exceptional value, as much for the social processes as for the
economic and technological processes that wrapped the sugar.
The wealth of this industrial heritage of the XVI century is contributed by the
typologies of the existent SUGAR MILL: hydraulic and animal powered. Both in
productive terms, of great importance.
Located in appropriate geographical areas for the employment of animal

powered and moved by force of river water, the SUGAR MILLS of the XVI century
in La Española included the import of knowledge, experiences and materials of the
sugar industry of the Old World, favoring the transport, the communications and
the trade.
The SUGAR MILL was always located in a country property that was a great
extension of agricultural land where the indigenous, African and Europeans
inhabited dedicated to its production.
Each SUGAR MILL had its stay, agricultural establishment mainly of tubers,
which fed the free and slave population bounded to the sugar production.
The industrial work needed of a great quantity of specialized manpower, as

much free men as slaves.
In consequence, the first sugar industries of the New World possess for
Humanity an exceptional value because of the social, economic and technological
processes that wrapped the production of the sweet and its derivates.
May 2004
The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

Dominican Republic was the starting point of the fundamental processes of the colonization
and of the development of the sugar industry in America.
The SUGAR MILLS of the XVI century constituted some of the fundamental socioeconomic
complexes of the colonization in the Caribbean, being the most advanced industry of its peri
od because of the diversity of activities that required the agricultural and industrial produc
tion of the sweet and its derivates.
Sustained by the system of exploitation of the indigenous and African manpower, requiring
the presence of the specialized European manpower for its installation and operation, the
SUGAR MILL reflects the transfer of knowledge and technology of the material, Asian,
European and African culture in the genesis of the American industrial heritage.
The wealth of this industrial heritage of the XVI century is contributed by the typologies of
the existent SUGAR MILL: hydraulic and animal powered. Both in productive terms, of
great importance.
Located in appropriate geographical areas for the employment of animal powered and
moved by force of river water, the SUGAR MILLS of the XVI century in La Española
included the import of knowledge, experiences and materials of the sugar industry of the Old
World, favoring the transport, the communications and the trade.
The SUGAR MILL was always located in a country property that was a great extension of
agricultural land where the indigenous, African and Europeans inhabited dedicated to its
production.
Each SUGAR MILL had its stay, agricultural establishment mainly of tubers, which fed the
free and slave population bounded to the sugar production.
The industrial work needed of a great quantity of specialized manpower, as much free men
as slaves.
In consequence, the first sugar industries of the New World possess for Humanity an excep
tional value because of the social, economic and technological processes that wrapped the
production of the sweet and its derivates.
Page No.1
May 2004
1. Identification of the Property
1.a. Country
Dominican Republic
1.b.c.f.
Page No.2
May 2004
1.e. Maps or plans in which the limits of the area that is proposed to be includ
ed and of the eventual buffer area, are indicated
Sources:
CM: Military Cartographic Institute, Armed Forces State Secretariat
INDRHI: National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.
Page No.3
May 2004
2. Justification for Inscription
2.a. Statement of significance
The Dominican Republic was the starting point of the fundamental processes of the
colonization and of the development of the sugar industry in America.
The Sugar Mills of the XVI century constituted some of the fundamental social
economic complexes of the colonization in The Caribbean, being the most advanced
industry of its time because the diversity of activities that required the agricultural and
industrial production of the sweet and its derivates.
The declaration of the “Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America” as World
Cultural Heritage strengthens the knowledge and popularity of the processes that gave
origin to the culture of the sugar in the New World.
Sustained by the system of exploitation of the native and African manpower, requiring
the presence of the specialized European manpower for their installation and operation,
the Sugar Mills reflects the transfer of knowledge and technology of the material,
Asian, European and African culture in the genesis of the American industrial Heritage.
In consequence, the first sugar industries of the New World possess for the Humanity
an exceptional value, as much for the social processes as for the economic and
technological processes that are involved the production of sugar.
The wealth of this industrial Heritage of the XVI century is the two types of Sugar
Mills existent in that moment in the Dominican Republic: hydraulic and animal pow-
ered. Both of great importance in production terms.
Located in appropriate geographical areas for the employment of animal powered and
moved by the force of river water, the Sugar Mills of the XVI century in La Española,
included the import of knowledge, experiences and materials of the sugar industry of
the Old World.
The Dominican Republic State has recognized their value, requesting its declarations
as national monuments.
These sugar establishments built in the XVI century have become part of the Cultural
Heritage of the Dominican Republic:
Page No.4
May 2004
2.a.1 Boca of Nigua Sugar Mill

Horses Powered. Registered in the relationship of Sugar Mills made by the Chronicler
of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo in 1546, in his work General and Natural
History of The Indies.
Built originally in the XVI century, according to the last documental investigations, it
belonged at this time to Francisco de Tostado, public notary who arrived to the island
in 1502.
Reconstructed, it reached its highest splendor in the XVIII century, it was administered
by Juan Bautista Oyarzábal, and its proprietor was the Marquis de Aranda, Spanish
nobleman.
Its house of boilers reproduces a classic model of the XVIII century, according to an
engraving published in 1789.
It represents an architectural group integrated by the physical spaces required in the

XVI and XVIII centuries for the sugar industrial production: besides the house of
boilers, the animal powered or water powered mill, house of purges, warehouse, dryer,
oven and chapel.
It illustrates through its construction the way of pro-slavery production in the XVI and
XVIII centuries, as well as the technology import and European materials and the
integration of natives and Africans as fundamental slave manpower for the industrial
production of the sweet.
This Sugar Mill was the historical place where took place the second revolt of slaves
of the Spanish part of the island in 1796. In that same year documental sources refer to
it as one of the best factories in the Spanish part of the Island. The place was visited in
1801 by the Haitian general Toussaint L´Ouverture, to negotiate the peace with the
Spanish authorities represented by Leonardo del Monte, José Sterling and the royal
official Francisco Gazcue.
Page No.5
May 2004
2.a.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill

Hydraulic Sugar Mill. Registered in the relationship of Sugar Mills made by the
Chronicler of Indies, Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo in 1546, on his work General and
Natural History of the Indies, as property of Diego Caballero, first secretary of Santo
Domingo’s Royal Audience. In 1518 he requested the King for a square league of earth
with ability to mark boundaries and to have jurisdiction over it, with the purpose of
raising a village on the place.
In this Sugar Mills was organized the first and bigger upbringing of goats in the Island,
also the first vineyards were planted there in 1535.
Diego Caballero Sugar Mill, represents an architectural group integrated by the

physical spaces required in the XVI century for the industrial production of the sugar:
House of purge, water reservoir, channels, warehouse and ovens, among others.
It illustrates through its constructions the way of pro-slavery production in the XVI
century, as well as the technology import and European materials and the native and
African slave manpower, fundamental for the industrial production of the sweet.
It possesses a channel that drove the river Nigua water from a distance of about a
league, to the Sugar Mill.
2.a.3. Engombe Sugar Mill

Horse Powered Sugar Mill. Registered in the relationship of Sugar Mills made by the
Chronicler of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo in 1546, in his work General and
Natural History of Indies, as property of the genoese Pedro Vázquez de Mella and
Esteban Justinián.
Engombe Sugar Mill represents an architectural group integrated by the physical

spaces required in the XVI century for the industrial production of sugar: Mill, the
proprietor’s housing, chapel, house of purges, warehouse, among others.
It illustrates through its constructions the way of pro-slavery production of the XVI
century, as well as the technology import and European materials and the native and
African integration as slave manpower, fundamental for the industrial production of the
sweet.
Page No.6
May 2004

2.c.1. Boca de Nigua Sugar Mill.
Intervened in 1978, the work consisted on the restoration of the house of boilers, being
reconstructed strictly half of the structure, the vestiges of the other half were consoli-
dated. A classic model of the Sugar Mills of the XVIII century was repro-
duced on the first half.
San Gregorio chapel was intervened for the first time in 1922 consolidating its
structures.
The ruins of the mill of polygonal plant and the dryer were also reconstructed. The
other structures were not intervened.
2.c.2.Diego Caballero Sugar Mill.

Part of its structures were liberated by means of archaeological investigations carried
out in 1988, they were consolidated and some missing parts were reinstated such
remains as the ovens, the house of boilers and the channels. The other structures have
not been intervened, a great part of the foundations corresponding to the
constructions that originally integrated the group in the XVI century are covered by
earth.
2.c.3. Engombe Sugar Mill.

The chapel and the house were restored in 1963. For its restoration the consolidation,
the anastilosis and the reinstatement of some missing parts were applied, respecting
and differentiating the original materials from the new ones. The other constructions of
the group have never been intervened.
2.c.4. Palavé Sugar Mill.

Its structures were consolidated in 1980, missing parts were reinstated, the walls were
reinforced and they recovered, the fallen elements were put in place by anastilosis.
2.c.5. La Duquesa Sugar Mill.

It has not been intervened, conserving the structures built in the XVI century. Most of
these under earth.
2.c.6. Sanate Sugar Mill:

It has not been intervened, conserving the structures built in the XVI century.
Page No.22
May 2004

2.d. Criteria according to which the inscription is proposed (and justification of
the inscription with arrangement to that criteria).
“to) ii) to attest a considerable exchange of influences, during a concrete period or in

a determined cultural area of the world, in the environments of the architecture or the
technology, the monumental arts, the urban planning or the creation of land-
scapes.”
The Sugar Mills in the XVI century constituted the most advanced industry of the peri-
od, because of the diversity of activities that required the agricultural and industrial
production of the sweet and its derivates
When Christopher Columbus undertook his second trip to the New World in 1493, he
introduced the plant in the island La Española.
In 1504 the first rehearsals of production of the sugar cane took place in La Española,
in a sugar mill moved by horses at the Nigua riverside.
In 1506 sugar was manufactured for the first time in the Island, dedicated for local con-
sumption, in the village Concepción de la Vega. In 1515 it was exported for the first
time to Spain.
The demand of the sugar product in Europe, the acclimatization of the plant and the
exhaustion of the gold mines and the reduction of the indigenous manpower and intro-
duction of African slave manpower, reoriented the economy of the colony toward the
sugar production and in consequence the Sugar Mills became the main population and
productive centers of the Island.
With the agricultural and industrial cultivation of the cane of sugar in La Española,
began the history of the agriculture projected toward the external trade in the
Caribbean.
“to) iv) to constitute an eminently representative example of a construction type or of

architectural or technological group, or of landscape that illustrates one or several
significant periods of the human history.”
Page No.23
May 2004

The “Route of the first Colonial Sugar Mills of America” is represented by the
architectural groups integrated by the physical spaces required in the XVI century for
the industrial production of the sugar:, The Mills, the proprietor’s housing, chapels,
houses of purges, warehouses, channels and ovens, among others.
They illustrate through their constructions the way of pro-slavery production of the
XVI century, as well as the technology import and European materials and the native
and African integration as slave manpower, fundamental for the industrial production
of the sweet.
“b) i)To respond to the criteria of authenticity in relation to their conception, their
materials, their execution or their environment and, in the case of cultural landscapes,
regarding their character or their distinctive components.”
The group of constructions that integrate the “Route of the first Colonial Sugar Mills
of America” conserve the integrity of physical spaces and original materials as the
archaeological and architectural studies carried out, present.
The interventions carried out during the last century in some of the structures that inte-
grate these groups, were conceived with ends of structural consolidation, respecting the
norms and international approaches of restoration.
Houses, chapels, mills, warehouses and houses of purges integrate as a unit the group
of representative properties of the sugar industry of the XVI century sustained by the
native and African slave manpower. Other structures have not been liberated.
3. Description
3.a. Description of Property

The “Route of the first Colonial Sugar Mills of America” is integrated by six monumen-
tal groups corresponding to the same number of facilities for the production of the sweet
and its derivates, built originally in the XVI century.
An overview description of the six sugar mills should be understood if one is reminded
that thirty three sugar mills functioned on the first 25 years of the XVI century. For its
period of time, and the geographical situation, it was a huge enterprise. If it is taken into
consideration that the sugar industry took the place of gold mining with economical
advantages, it can be understood as an outstanding economical, social and historical phe-
nomenon of which, the ruins of the six sugarmills stand as remainders and monuments
Page No.24
May 2004

of the first highly prosperous economical enterprise, that enveloped people from
diverse origins, all concentrated in the sugar cane plantations.
The tradition of the sugar industry endured in the Caribbean until today, with success
ful periods and others where the cane cultivation was not such a good and prosperous
business.
The Caribbean and specially Dominican Republic, known before, during the colonial
period, as Hispaniola, have a culture that evolved around the sugar mills. The current
population of the country descends from the people that were brought to work on the
sugar fields and take charge of the plantations.
The constructions on the sugar plantations were grandiose. The main houses had the
architecture of the palaces raised on Santo Domingo, the first European city founded on
the lands discovered by Christopher Columbus. The materials used were stone, bricks
and masonry. The buildings destined for the mills and the boiling of sugar were also of
the same noble and strong materials. Every thing on the plantations was made to endure,
five hundred years later, the strong walls still stand although the roofs have long fallen.
The six Sugar Mills that compose the Route of the first Colonial mills of America are the
most representative of those built on the XVI century, two of them situated near the
Nigua River, where five plantations functioned at that time.
One is situated on the Haina Riverbank, other river in the vicinity of the city of Santo
Domingo. Another sugar mill is situated on lush valley known for its fertility up to our
days, this valley has sustained sugar cane plantations since the XVI century.
The Sugar mill of the Viceroy situated to the north of Santo Domingo, not far away, in
another flat landscape, famous for its beauty. The last one is located to the east, on a
region of rolling valleys and many rivers, that up to our days sustains the main sugar
plantations.
Each of them have the characteristic constructions needed for the cultivation of the sugar
cane and the production of sugar. With the interesting addition that some of them have
mills powered by Hydraulic force, and others powered by animal force.
The history of the people brought from Africa as slaves to work on the plantations and
the sugar mills, is intimately linked to these Sugar Mills, these in a last instance, stand
as a silent memorial for the millions of souls that worked and died to sustain the sugar
industry.
Page No.25
May 2004

Each of the Sugar mills chosen for the World Heritage Nomination, as representatives
of the many that were built on Hispaniola during the XVI century, and that composed
the most dynamic industry of that time in the Caribbean, possesses characteristic
constructions that allow to differentiate the two main types of existent Sugar mills in
the Caribbean, during that period: animal powered and hydraulic.
All the Sugar Mills are located in the proximity of a river which allowed the supply of
water as energy source, also for the transportation of products toward the nearest port.
3.a.1. Nigua Sugar Mill

The Sugar Mill is located in the proximity of the Nigua river. Built over the founda-
tions of a Sugar Mills in the XVI century, the current visible structures correspond in
their entirety to the XVIII century.
Stands out in the group the house of boilers, built in walls and bricks, which repro
duces a classic model of the period. In has a train with five vents built of bricks. It
has two levels separated by a vault of bricks, almost plane, finishing in a two sided
roof .
Built originally in the XVIII century. The it was restored last century, being left a
partially roofed part.
It presents a circular oven in stone and mill of octagonal plant reinforced by masonry
buttresses and bricks.
A double dryer, of polygonal plant, built in masonry and brick, is roofed with tiles. It
was restored last century.
A central patio where there is a well and a water reservoir, it presents remains of the
walls corresponding to the constructions that integrated the group originally, surround-
ing it.
The chapel, located in the outskirts of the group, is of a single nave and it presents a
polygonal apse. Its portal presents the same original characteristics. In the polygonal
apse on the sacristy, it presents a reed-mace. It possesses the simple style of the fami-
ly churches tied to the sugar industry. It was restored for the first time in 1922. From
its restoration to this date fulfils its mission as a rural church.
The monument possesses also other structures not liberated to date.
Page No.26
May 2004

3.a.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill
Diego Caballero Sugar Mill is located in the proximities of the Nigua river and of a
beach with the same name in the Caribbean Sea.
The purge house presents a rectangular structure built in stone, without roof.
Everything corresponds to the XVI century.
In the house of boilers there is a Spanish train with five vents and a small train with
five vents in bricks finished with lime and sand; equally a water well only its curb can
be seen nowadays.
Some of the structures have been partially restored.
Channels to drive the waters, built in stone, cross along the lands. The same ones were
partially restored.
An oven brick for the foundry and an oven for the cooking of bricks, moulds and tiles.
These last ones were restored.
It possesses other structures not liberated to date.
Engombe Sugar Mill is located in the Haina oriental riverbank.
The group possesses a house, chapel, mill, house of purge and warehouse. It also pos-
sesses other structures not liberated to date.
The house of the Sugar Mill, of two rectangular levels, built in stone, i of Renaissance
style, has been compared with Diego Columbus’s Palace, since it reproduces a framed
double arcade. It presents the remains of the presence of balconies in its second
level.
The chapel of the Sugar Mill presents unique architectural values: is the only reli-
gious construction of the XVI century in La Española with absence of elements from
the Gothic art and presence of elements of the Renaissance art.
The mill, built in stone and of polygonal plant, has never been intervened.
The warehouse, of rectangular plant is built in stone and bricks, it has never been inter-
vened.
Page No.27
May 2004

productive units from the demographic point of view.
In the later centuries the population of the island developed an economy of subsistence
based on the hunt, the livestock upbringing and the cultivation of fruits fomenting the
cattle cluster.
Documental sources evidence how the Sugar Mills in the island La Española kept its
agricultural production and cattle raising until very advanced the XVIII century,
decaying later on because of the change of the economy from the cluster to the
diversified agricultural economy.
3.b.1. Boca de Nigua Sugar Mill

Recent historical documentary investigations register the possible construction of this
Sugar Mill in the XVI century, belonging to Francisco of de Tostado.
In 1546 the Chronicler of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo includes it in the inven-
tory of Sugar Mills of the island, mentioning its current location and original
proprietors.
The country property of Boca de Nigua in 1731, year of the Treaty of Ryswick that
defines the river Dajabón or Massacre as the North frontier, belonged to the Marquis
de Aranda.
In 1740 in an inventory of agricultural establishments and cattlemen appears its

proprietor’s name, position and number of slaves and free people.
The current structures evidence its type of mill as horse powered, with the physical
spaces destined in the XVIII century for the production of the sweet and its derivates.
Its construction was the result of a series of granted facilities, given by, the Spanish
monarchy that intended to put to the Spanish part of the island into levels that
resembled those experienced by the Santo French Santo Domingo colony, under an
accentuated slavery regime.
Its operational infrastructure indicates that it for its operation it required abundant slave
manpower, possessing a house of boilers with five pans. Its model of French origin, is
similar to those developed in Saint Domingue’s French colony and later on the island
of Cuba, centralizing in an unified physical space, around a central patio, all the
Page No.37
May 2004

necessities, contrary to the sugar Sugar Mills built by the Spaniards whose structures
are segregated.
After the second biggest rebellion of slaves in La Española that took place in this Sugar
Mill, the industry began to fall due to the insecurities that represented for its proprietor
the subjected population’s maintenance, as much for the agricultural diversification
that implied the substitution of the sugar cane crop.
With the Haitian Occupation of the oriental part of the island in 1822, the lands were
distributed and the Sugar Mills fell in abandonment.
During the XX century it was part of a country property dedicated to the upbringing of
dictator’s Rafael Leonidas Trujillo livestock bovine property. After his death, the lands
became part of the Dominican Republic state until by means of the Law 492 of October
27 1969 it was declared cultural heritage Monument of the Dominican Republic, with
the denomination “Ruins and facilities of the Nigua Sugar Mill.”
3.b.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill.

In 1518, Diego Caballero requests from the king a league of earth with the ability to
mark it down and to have jurisdiction over it. “Its costs was 15,000 dukedoms and they
were more than sixty houses of stone and straw, as well as a church with a clergyman
that celebrated mass.”
Documents of the epoch take notice of the importance of the construction of the
channel that took the water for more than a league and crossed below rocks and
sandbanks, its construction took about five to six years. This demonstrates the
importance it had as a hydraulic Sugar Mill.
In 1546 the Chronicler of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo included it in the

inventory of Sugar Mills of the island, mentioning its current location and original
proprietors.
As a hydraulic Sugar Mill it used the wheel of vertical traction for the generation of the
mill.
As the Sugar Mill of Boca de Nigua, its production began to fall due to the insecuri
ties that represented for its proprietor the subjected population’s maintenance, and
the agricultural diversification that implied the substitution of the sugar cane.
Page No.38
With the Haitian Occupation of the oriental part of the island in 1822, the lands were
distributed and the sugar Sugar Mills fell into abandonment.
During the XX century it was part of a country property dedicated to the upbringing
of dictator’s Rafael Leonidas Trujillo livestock bovine property. After his death, this
lands became part of the Dominican Republic state.
In 1998 the works of archaeological investigation began, liberating parts of its struc-
tures and consolidating some elements.
3.b.3. Engombe Sugar Mill

The earliest written sources about the proprietors of the Sugar Mill appear in a census
of 1528. Another documental source written between 1533 and 1535 highlights its
importance.
In 1546 the Chronicler of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo includes it in the

inventory of Sugar Mills of the island, mentioning its current location. Original and
later proprietors, repairs and technology change in the production of sugar, from
hydraulic to horse powered mill.
Corresponding to the type of horse powered mill, the group of existent constructions
reveals its importance during its time, being located in the proximities of the Royal
Road.
During the following XVII century it continued its sugar production, being affected
by the invasion of the English armada sent by Oliver Cromwell directed by generals
Penn y Venables in 1655.
In 1740 in an inventory of agricultural establishments and cattlemen appeared its pro-

prietor’s name, position and slaves’ number and free people that the sugar mill pos-
sessed.
In 1762 a notary sale record of the Sugar Mill, described it denominating it Santa
Ana of Engombe with its structures and agricultural establishments and cattlemen.
In 1795 an inventory of its properties registers with detail the relative attributes of the
belongings of its structural properties and furniture, emphasizing the prevalence of
the agricultural production, especially sugar, over the cattle production.
Page No.39
In the XIX century it was abandoned by its proprietors. In the XX century it became
part of the properties of the Trujillo family, after the fall of the dictatorship the land was
given to the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo who built in the proximities the
School of Agronomy and Veterinary.
This sugar establishment built in the XVI century became part of the cultural Heritage
of the Dominican Republic, for the first time with the denomination of Ruins of the
Sugar Mill of Engombe by means of the Law 293 of February 13 1944; the second
time, under the name Ruins of the Sugar Mill of Engombe, its residence and facilities”,
by means of the Law 492 of October 27 1969.
3.b.4. Palavé Sugar Mill

The type of Sugar Mill used is unknown for this sugar establishment located in the
proximities of the Haina river.
On the house of two levels little historical documentation exists.
Abandoned in the XVIII century, the lands were dedicated to the livestock production.
In the XX century the lands were part of the Dominican Republic State, being
employed for the cultivation of the sugar cane by the Sugar State Council.
The Dominican Republic State has recognized the value of the Palave Sugar Mill
declaring it national monument in 1969 with the name of Ruins and Facilities of the
Palave Sugar Mill.”
3.b.5. La Duquesa Sugar Mill.

The written sources about the Sugar Mill later called La Duquesa, because it belonged
to the only legitimate wife of the Duke of Veragua, Doña María de Mosquea, relates
that in 1520 while it was administered by Diego Colon, he was the victim of the “first
black rebellion that America knew”, two years after the cacique Guarocuya
(Enriquillo)rebellion.
In 1546 the Chronicler of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo includes it in the inven-
tory of Sugar Mills of the island, mentioning its current location. Original and later pro-
prietors, repairs and technology changes in the production of sugar, from hydraulics to
horse powered mill.
Toward 1586 a rebellion of neighbors of Santo Domingo skilled in weapons use, is car
Page No.40
ried out, and inside the clusters of cows of Santo Domingo, is presented the“cluster of
Doña. María de Mosquea” that according to the Real Identification dated June 3, 1644
“this case has gone on for thirty years” about the “heirloom of a Sugar Mill house”
been founded by María de Toledo.
In 1740 in an inventory of agricultural establishments and cattlemen appears its propri-

etor’s name, position and number of slaves and free people that the sugar mill.
Doctor Manuel de Jesus Arredondo, establishes its abandonment toward 1794, after the
surrender of Santo Domingo to France, denominating it “Surrounded Higüero.”
Inside its constructions stands out, as a hydraulic Sugar Mill, its water deposit, of con-
siderable size, in comparison with the other proposed Sugar Mills.
In the XX century the lands passed to be part of the Dominican Republic State, being
employed in the cultivation of the sugar cane for the Sugar State Council. Later on,
some of the lands pass to be part of an international airport, at the moment in construc-
tion.
3.b.6. Sante Sugar Mill.
In 1546 the Chronicler of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo included it in the inven-
tory of Sugar Mills of the island, mentioning its current location, proprietors and pro-
duction capacity.
The Dam is outstanding in the group of constructions built in the Sanate river, as well
as the dimensions of its industrial facilities.
In the year 1976 the first archaeological investigations were carried out by the Man
Museum.
At the moment the lands are owned by private proprietors. The Dominican Republic
State has requested its declaration as national monument.
Type and date of more recent documents relating to the property
Historically the inventories carried out in the sugar establishments corresponding to the
“Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America” appear registered in the
following documents:
Page No.41
3.b.6. Sante Sugar Mill.
In 1546 the Chronicler of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo included it in the inven-
tory of Sugar Mills of the island, mentioning its current location, proprietors and pro-
duction capacity.
The Dam is outstanding in the group of constructions built in the Sanate river, as well
as the dimensions of its industrial facilities.
In the year 1976 the first archaeological investigations were carried out by the Man
Museum.
At the moment the lands are owned by private proprietors. The Dominican Republic
State has requested its declaration as national monument.
Type and date of more recent documents relating to the property
Historically the inventories carried out in the sugar establishments corresponding to the
“Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America” appear registered in the follow-
ing documents:
Otte, Enrique. “Carlos V and his heritage vassals from America.” Clío, year XXVIII,
number 116, January-June 1969.
It is at that time that is carried out the first known census of Santo Domingo, referring
to the proprietors of farms and stays; the number of Christian and the qualified man-
power.
A historical source of general Consultation corresponds to:

Fernández de Oviedo, Gonzalo. General and Natural History of Indies. Book IV,
Chapter VIII, in Oviedo, Las Casas, Chosen Chronicles. Santo Domingo: Publisher
Corripio, 1988 (Library of Classics of the Dominican Republic, Volume IV).
An example of the work division by age and sex, in the case of the black African slaves
appears registered in an inventory made on December 17, 1547 in Santiago de Paz
Sugar mill of Hernando Gorjón, located in the village of Azua, pointed out in the Royal
Identifications and Correspondences of Governors from Santo Domingo: From
Cardinal Cisneros Regency on. Collection of J. Marino Inchaústegui, Tomo I. Madrid:
1958.
Page No.42
Supplements this the quantitative relationship of the native and African slave
manpower in the Sugar Mills of the XVI century, between the years 1532 to 1536,
pointed out in 1790 by: Peguero Luis Joseph. History of the Conquest of La Española
Island. Santo Domingo: Museum de las Casas Reales, 1975.
By the XVII century a relationship of “Sugar Mills of Santo Domingo’s neighbors”

appears pointed out in the census of Sugar Mills of 1603 in the work of E. Rodríguez
Demorizi historical Relationships of Santo Domingo. Ciudad Trujillo: Publisher
Montalvo, 1945, volume II.
Equally, the same author published the article “English Invasion of 1655” in the Nation
General Files in 1956.
In the XVIII century a “File on the rectories of Jaina and Nigua” in 1753, located in the
General File of Indies, describes the existent Sugar Mills in the riverbanks.
A more recent work appears registered in the publication: Río, Justo L. The Beginnings
of the European Agriculture in the New World: 1492-1542. Seville: ASAJA-Seville,
Rural Box of Huelva, Rural Box of Seville, 1991.
3.c.1. Boca de Nigua Sugar Mill.

The plans corresponding to this Sugar Mills were carried out in the year 1978 by the
Commission for the Consolidation and of the historical Monuments of Santo
Domingo’s City, being registered in the publication Restoration of Old Monuments Of
the Dominican Republic: Plans and Images, by engineer José Ramón Báez López-
Penha and Eugenio Pérez Montás, published by the National University Pedro
Henríquez Ureña in 1986.
3.c.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill.

The concerning works of the inventories carried out in the place appear registered in
the following reports:
Cost, Francisco Lic. and Adames Joaquín. Report of the Classification and Analysis of
the Recovered Archaeological Flowerpots in the Ingenio Diego Caballero, Nigua, San
Cristobal, Dominican Republic.
December 1999.
Page No.43
Luna Calderón, Fernando Lic. Technical report of the Works of the Diego Caballero
Sugar Mill. 1989.
3.c.3.Engombe Sugar Mill.

The most complete inventory on the properties and furniture that the Sugar Mill pos-
sessed in the XVIII century appears registered in the year 1795.
Of the inventories carried out later on we mention the following documental refer-
ences:
Degree project. Fondeur, Nerva. The Sugar Mills of the XVI Century in La Española:
Setting in Value of the Engombe Sugar Mill, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Thesis to opt for Teacher’s title in Conservation of Monuments and Cultural
Properties. UNPHU, 1999.
Duval, Santiago. Inform of the archaeological prospects carried out in

Engombe Sugar mill. Dominican Republic, s.e., 1999.
3.c.4. Palavé Sugar Mill.

The restoration of the house, carried out in the year 1980 by the Commission for the
Consolidation of the historical Monuments of Santo Domingo’s City appears regis-
tered in:
Báez López-Penha, José Ramón; Pérez Montas, Eugenio. Restoration of Old
Monuments Of the Dominican Republic: Plans and Images. Santo Domingo.
UNPHU; 1986
3.c.5. La Duquesa Sugar Mill.

The documentation generated by the investigations of the place, appears registered
in:
Degree project. Costa Francisco, Duval Santiago, Fondeur Nerva, Roquel Martha.
Archaeological excavations in the Sugar Mill–La Duquesa. Thesis to opt for the title
of Bachelor in Archaeology. UCSD, 1994.
3.c.6. Sanate Sugar Mill.

The first inventories of the place were registered in the Bulletin of the Man Museum,
Year VII, Number 10, May of 1978.
Page No.44
After these inventories the most recent plans are those registered by the National
Direction of Monumental Heritage in the year 2002.
Current state of conservation
At the present time the constructions corresponding to the “Route of the first
Colonial Sugar Mills of America” are well conserved in a general sense. Periodic
inspections are carried out by the specialists of the different areas with the intention
of their permanent maintenance.
The Secretariat of State of Culture through the General Direction of Monumental

Heritage has prepared on its ten year plan special funds for its conservation.
As years have gone by, the original structures of the sugar facilities have been affect-
ed by the impact, particularly, of nature, as is the case of hurricanes and earthquakes,
those mentioned previously have been hardly intervened.
Machineries of the period do not exist in the Sugar Mills, except for such goods as
furniture and metal recipients for the cooking of the sugar juice, and remains of stone
from the mill.
3.d.1. Boca de Nigua Sugar Mill.

The house of boilers, of two levels, possesses half of its roof restored, works carried
out last century. Its basement, containing the ovens that fed the boilers, was equally
partially restored, leaving the other architectural elements that it contains in its original
state.
Taking these same approaches the mill and the dryer were restored. The oven and the
other remaining structures are in their original state.
In the central patio, the curb of the well was reconstructed.
At little distance, the chapel, at the moment in intervention process, presents samples
of humidity, deterioration due to climatic facts and cracks in the plaster.
3.d.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill.

The house of purges, without roof, presents the remains of the original walls, after the
impacts of nature, as is the case of hurricanes and earthquakes.
The house of boilers is being intervened, the liberated walls are being bolstered and
Page No.45
May 2004

the other existent structures are being consolidated..
The channels present the current state of the time in which they were built. A part of
these, outside of the limits of the lands at the moment occupied by the Dominican
Republic State, have been covered by vegetation.
3.d.3. Engombe Sugar Mill.

In a general sense the constructions that integrate the group are in good conservation
state, except for the mill and the warehouse, not intervened to date, at the moment in
consolidation process.
The house, without roof, is conserved as it was intervened last century. The chapel at
structural level is in a good conservation state. It is being periodically used for the cult.
3.d.4.Palavé Sugar Mill.

The house of the old proprietors, without roof, in a general sense, is in good
conservation state. It is in a natural space with a view of a great part of the
geographical environment that surrounds it.
3.d.5. Duquesa Sugar Mill.

The group is dominated by the hydraulic mill whose structures, as well as the channels
that surround it, have not been intervened.
3.d.6. Sanate Sugar Mill.

The remains of the house of purges and the house of the boilers stand out, not
intervened to date, presenting the prints of the natural impacts, such as hurricanes and
earthquakes.
The house of boilers, without roof, presents a solid wall built of bricks and masonry
as a main facade.
The remains of the main channel are a in good conservation state, as well as the dam
located at a little distance.
3.e. Policies and programmes related to the presentation and promotion of the
property.
The cultural politics in reference to the protection, preservation and activation of the
monumental heritage of the Dominican Republic are framed in the ideal of organizing
Page No.46
and rationalizing the material resources, as well as personnel and logistics in such way
that they can be sustainable in time through specific strategies. Towards that end, the
State Secretariat of Culture promotes political of social appropriation of the heritage by
the community.
Diverse activities of the local communities and non governmental organizations, are
promoted and encouraged that develop religious and cultural events in the places, as
the Wild African Feast that takes place every year in October.
As much the heritage rights as the uses of the monumental heritage are considered fun-
damental in the formulation of cultural politics.
In such a sense, one of the strategies is the study and preservation of the cultural her-
itage so that it is known, protected and transmitted for the enjoyment of the present and
future generations.
For these means, the State Secretary of Culture has a ten year plan of Cultural
Development 2003-2012, in which are included the programs and projects related with
the administration of the places corresponding to the “Route of the first Colonial Sugar
Mills of America.”
To date special importance is given to education and tourism through permanent cam-
paigns in coordination with public and private institutions. Equally, children and adults
guided visits to the places are coordinated with specialized personnel, emphasizing
their importance for the enhancement of the national identity.
Special attention is given to the project “The Heritage in the youths’ hands” developed
with the sponsorship of UNESCO.
Inside the programs of self-management they are facilities for private companies for
the filming of commercial videotapes on the sites. With the funds obtained by these
means are invested in the conservation of the sites.
Works in the setting in value of the sites nominated in the “Route of the first Colonial
Sugar Mills of America” adapting them to the national and foreign cultural tourism,
through the creation of museums at the sites, with the required infrastructure,
supported by audiovisual documentation that describe the history of the sugar and their
derivates.
Page No.47
May 2004

4. Administration
4.a. Ownership
The Legal status corresponding to the lands where the areas of the Buffer areas of the
nominated sugar mills, that are occupied by families that lack the titles that endorse
the corresponding property, are considered illegal occupation.
The Constitution of the Dominican Republic gives attribution to the National

Congress to authorize the acquisition by the Secretary of State of Culture, of these
lands, through the National Direction of Monumental Heritage before the National
Direction of National Properties. (Bienes Nacionales)
4.a.1. Boca de Nigua Sugar Mills
The Influence and Buffer areas of this property belong to the Dominican Republic
State after being part of the lands of the old Hacienda María, a property of Tyrant
Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina.
After his death in the year 1961 these lands were occupied, legal and illegally by dif
ferent families that were the labour personnel of the country property, during the dic
tator’s lifetime.
Some of the first occupants sold their occupation rights to third persons, without any
legalization of their situation before of the National Properties Office.
The nucleus of the property where the main structures of the Sugar Mill are located,
belong to the Dominican Republic State. It exercises its protection through the National
Direction of Monumental Heritage.
The lands comprised in the Buffer area are occupied by the following families:
Félix Castillo
Bolivar Pérez
Carlos Pérez
Sergio Almánzar
Address: Boca de Nigua, municipality of Nigua, county of San Cristobal.
4.a.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill.
As in the case of Boca de Nigua from 1961, year of the Tyrant Rafael Leonidas
Trujillo Molina execution, the nucleus of the property where the main structures of this
Page No.48
Sugar Mill are, belong to the Dominican Republic State, Which exercises its protec
tion through the National Office of Monumental Heritage.
Equally, the Dominican Republic State is the legal proprietor of the lands where the
buffer areas of this Sugar Mill are, inside the old Hacienda María, although some of
the lands of the property were sold to third parties, these last ones did not legalize their
situation before the General Direction of National Properties, The public institution in
charge of the administration of the State Properties.
The nucleus of the property where the main structures of this Sugar Mill are, belong
to the Dominican Republic State, which exercises its protection through the National
The lands comprised in the Buffer area, are occupied by the following people and their
families:
Manuel Fernández
Freddy Madera
Sotero Guzmán
Freddy Almánzar
Cotes Family
The area of this property where the main structures of the Sugar Mill are, belong to
the Dominican Republic State, which exercises its protection through the National
The Buffer area of this property belongs to the personnel of the Autonomous University
of Santo Domingo. This Institution sold the lands and at the moment it is trying to
recover them by means of agreements with the current owners through the transfer of
these to lands in exchange of a nearby residential area, property of the Dominican
Republic State.
The nucleus of the property where the main structures of this Sugar Mill are, belongs
to the Dominican Republic State, which exercises its protection, through the National
The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo is located at: Juan Sánchez Ramírez
street, University Zone, Santo Domingo city.
Page No.49
4.b. Legal status
The article 101 of the Constitution of the Dominican Republic (1994) establishes that
all the artistic and historical wealth of the country, be who it may be its owner, will be
part of the Cultural Heritage of the Nation and it will be under the safeguard of the
State. And it is through the Law that it will be decided what is appropriate for its con
servation and defence.
The laws are approved by the Legislative Power exercised by the Deputy and Senators
Chambers in the National Congress (article 16 of the Constitution of the Dominican
Republic).
It corresponds to the National Congress to provide the conservation and protection of

the national properties, and the alienation of properties in private hands that may be of
National interest, (article 37, I incises 4, of the attributions of the National Congress,
Constitution of the Dominican Republic) providing for one to the conservation of
Monuments and Antique objects and for the acquisition of these. (Article 37, I incis
es 5, of the Congress).
Equally the Executive Power has the prerogative to promulgate the laws and resolu
tions that emanate from the National Congress, to send regulations, ordinances and
instructions when necessary (article 55, I incises 2, of the Executive Power).
This article authorizes the President of the Republic to declare any Monument that is
in the territory of the Dominican Republic as “National Monument ” by a decree.
The 318 Law of June 14, 1968 about the Cultural Heritage of the Nation, in its arti
cle 2, sets down that “ Are part of the Monumental Heritage, the Monuments, Ruins
and Burials of Pre Columbian archaeology; The Colonial Buildings, Urban Groups
and other Constructions of significant historical or artistic interest...”
This is the case of the Nominated Sugar Mills that belong to the Monumental Heritage
of the Dominican Republic.
In the article 6 of this same Law it is indicated that “the Dominican Republic State is
in charge of the safeguard of the values that constitute the Cultural Heritage of the
Nation according to the dispositions of this Law that will be exercised through the
organs created by this Law or other legislative or special regulations.”
Page No.51
May 2004

By means of this disposition the National Direction of Monumental Heritage is
responsible for the legal protection of the Nominated Sugar Mills.
In the article 11 it is settled down that in any case, the values of the cultural Heritage
of the Nation subjected by this Law can not be destroyed, damaged or altered by its
proprietors or possessors without consulting with the National Heritage Direction.
Any violation to the dispositions of the present Law or of the Regulations for their exe
cution as dictated by the Executive Power, are sanctioned with prison and with penal
ties through the police authorities.
By means of the article number 14 of the Law number 318 of June 14 1968 the Office
of Cultural Heritage became the (National Direction of Monumental Heritage).
In the article 2, this Law authorizes the institution to provide for the conservation of
Monuments, Urban and Rural, the declared Monumental groups and National
Monuments.
In the article 3 of this Law it clearly settles down the mission of the National Direction
of Monumental Heritage for the elaboration of conservation plans, consolidation and
presentation of Monuments and Monumental groups of the country and of those build
ings that can affect the realization of the elaborated plans and that have not been
declared National Monuments, as well as the inspection of these.
In its article 4 this Law establishes the creation of a Committee of Honor and an
executive commission integrated by the following people: the Honorable President of
the Republic who presides over it; Santo Domingo’s Archbishop, the secretaries of
State of Education, fine Arts and Cults, the Secretary of Public Works and
Communications; the Presidents of the City Council of the National District, The head
of the Commission for the Development and the President of the Academy of History;
the secretary of Tourism, and the Director of the General Archive of the Nation next to
the Deans of Architecture of all the Universities of the Country.
All these articles were included in the Law number 41-00 that created the Secretary of
State of Culture, on June 28, 2000.
Page No.52
4.c. Protective measures and means of implementing them
In this same Law, on its article 7, about the declaration of National Monuments, the
mechanism to apply establishes that for this process, the file should be by means of the
motivation carried out by the National Direction of Monumental Heritage and the
Academy of History. Any intervention in these constructions will be in charge of the
Institution as it is established on the article 8 of this Law.
For conservation ends, the article 9 of this Law establishes that the Monumental
Heritage Direction will offer cooperation to the Provincial Governments and City
councils that, besides the securities and place facilities, should lend economic help
according to each case.
In the article 10.the civil and ecclesiastical entities of any class, will have the obliga
tion of allowing the public to view, study and register, the values on their possession
subject to the Regulations. The juridical possessors of declared valuable properties or
National Monuments will have the same obligations.
For the Administration of the Sites, these institutions have been incorporated through
their representatives in the coordinating committees. This has been carried out through
meetings with the non government organizations and the local communities and
government institutions.
As for the Municipalities these are obliged to look after the conservation of the exis
tent Cultural Heritage in their jurisdiction as it is established the article 11 of the Law
number 318.
The Law number 492 declares Colonial City of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the area
declared by ordinance number 1650, also dictates other dispositions, dated on
September 13, 1967 in which it declares as National Monuments the Sugar Mills of
Engombe, Palavé and Nigua in its article 3. These Sugar Mills and those that from now
on are declared National Monuments, are under the protection and guides of the
National Direction of Monumental Heritage as it is established in article 5.
The obligation of conserving these Monuments corresponds to the user, the owners,
possessors, be these the State, autonomous corporations, provincial and municipal enti
ties, foundations, patronages or private entities.
Page No.53
May 2004

Since the creation of the National Direction of Monumental Heritage, the Dominican
Republic State has assigned human resources and materials annually for the mainte
nance and investigation of the nominated Sugar Mills.
The Law Number 41-00, created the Secretary of State of Culture, on June 28, 2000.
The Secretary of Culture reunites all the state cultural institutions, including the
National Direction of Monumental Heritage.
In article 7, this law passes onto to the Secretary of State of Culture, the rights of all
the States’ Monumental Properties.
The Secretary of State of Culture through the National Direction of Monumental

Heritage submitted to the National Congress in November, 2002, a project of Law for
the Built Heritage and a Law of Incentives, that was approved in a First Reading.
In the Ten Year Plan of Culture, for this year 2004, 80 thousand dollars have been ded
icated for the administration of the nominated places, including mechanisms of preven
tion of risks and conservation; elaboration of standards for norms; manuals, guides,
books, posters, maps and audiovisual material; and maintenance of all the
infrastructure.
4.d. Agencies with managemen authority
The State Secretariat of Culture through the National Direction of Monumental

Heritage is the institution responsible for the conservation of the monumental sites.
The Environment and Natural Resources State Secretariat and the National Council
of Urban Matters (CONAU), are responsible of the conservation of the natural
resources of the sites.
The State Secretariat of Education, is responsible for the popularization of the sites as
educational didactic resources among the population of the Dominican Republic.
The State Secretariat of Tourism, is responsible for the setting in value of the pro-
posed tourist route
Page No.54
The City council of the Santo Domingo Oeste municipality, is responsible for the col-
lection of the solid waste in the environment of Engombe and Palave Sugar Mills.
The City council of the municipality of Nigua is responsible for the collection of the
solid waste in the environment of Nigua and Diego Caballero Sugar Mills.
The City council of the municipality of Santo Domingo Norte is responsible for the
collection of solid waste in the environment of La Duquesa Sugar Mill.
The City council of the municipality of Higuey is responsible for the collection of the
solid waste in the environment of Sanate Sugar Mill.
4.e. Level at which management is exercised( and name and address of contact
person.
The administration of the places nominated in the “Route of the first Colonial Sugar
Mills of America” is the responsibility of the State Secretariat of Culture through the
National Direction of Monumental Heritage and its regional dependences.
At level of the good, each sugar mill has an administrator from the community who
is the connection between the local communities and the National Direction of
Monumental Heritage. The profile and the responsibilities of the administrator are
defined in the proposed flowchart.
In support to the administration of each site, local patronages integrated by the most
representative public and private authorities are being created. These patronages will
respond directly to the State Secretariat of Culture through the National Direction of
Monumental Heritage.
At a national level, the coordinator is Dr. Arq. Cesar Iván Feris Iglesias, National
Director of Monumental Heritage. Address: Hostos 154,Colonial City, Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Page No.55
May 2004

4.f. Agreed plans related to property (for example, regional or local plan, conser-
vation plan, plan of tourist development, etc.)
The State Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources with the National Council
of Urban Matters have prepared an administration plan for the Haina, Nigua, Higuero
and Sanate rivers .
Equally non governmental organizations participate in the implementation of courses

for the training of the communities near the nominated sites.
4.g. Sources and levels of finance
The financial resources provided by the Dominican Republic State correspond to those
in the General Budget of the Nation. For these means the State Secretariat of Culture
has prepared on its Ten year Plan of Cultural Development 2003-2012 a special chap-
ter for the National Direction of Monumental Heritage assigned for the nominated sites
that amounts to US $76,000.00 annually for the maintenance and interpretation of the
nominated sites.
Other chapters assigned inside the Ten year Plan of Cultural Development, are inven-
tory, conservation of archaeological areas, diffusion, implementation of projects of cul-
tural tourism, ascends to the approximate quantity of US $145,000.00 annually.
The State Secretariat of Public Works and Communications has assigned a budget for
the construction of the access roads to Nigua, Diego Caballero and Engombe Sugar
Mills for an amount of US $514,285.00.
The goal is to obtain permanent financial resources through the self-management of

the sites and later on to develop programs with the participation of the public and pri-
vate sectors.
Page No.56
4.h. Sources of expertise and training in conservation and management tech
niques
The National Direction of Monumental Heritage counts with qualified human

resources in the areas of conservation of monuments and cultural properties. These
human resources have been qualified through the Caribbean Regional Program at
University Level sponsored by the European Union under the Agreement of LOME IV.
In regard to cultural administration, the National Direction of Monumental Heritage

has personnel qualified in the Specialty of Cultural Administration, program sponsored
by the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, the Ministry of Culture of Cuba and
the State Secretariat of Culture of the Dominican Republic.
In reference to prevention of risk of the cultural Heritage, the National Direction of

Monumental Heritage has human resources qualified in the national and international
environment, through courses of Training for Institutional trainers, sponsored by the
Technical Secretariat of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic.
In the international environment the celebration of the Seminar workshop for the
Caribbean and Central America: Prevention of the Risk of the Cultural Heritage, spon-
sored by ICCROM, UNESCO Center of World Heritage, the Technical Secretariat of
the Presidency of the Dominican Republic and the State Secretariat of Culture, through
the National Direction of Monumental Heritage, equally local qualified personnel.
4.i. Visitor facilities and statistics
The National Direction of Monumental Heritage through the plans of administration of

the sites nominated in the “Route of the first Colonial Sugar Mills of America” has
begun the process of adapting the necessary facilities that will allow the improvement
of the quality of services for users when visiting the sites.
Equally it has coordinated the permanent measurement of the visitors affluence to the
place through the daily registration of visitors, and the applications of the public and
private, religious, cultural and educational institutions that request visits to the
monuments for different ends.
Page No.57
May 2004

To date the places nominated with more affluence of visitors are the Sugar Mills of
Boca de Nigua, Diego Caballero, Engombe and Palavé, particularly the first one
receives the biggest number of annual visitors, one of the motives is the wild African
feast. An average of 20,000 visitors attend this feast.
In La Duquesa Sugar Mill and Sanate the control of the attendance of visitors is
coordinated through the Regional and Provincial Directions.
In coordination with the private sector, plans of administration of each site are being
prepared, facilities for the setting in value of the same ones are being built.
4.j. Property management plan and statement of objectives
The plan of Administration of the sites nominated in the “Route of the First Colonial
Sugar Mills of America” is contemplated in a administrative and economic logistical
level.
The General Management mechanism for the Six Sugar Mills, is made of an
Administrative Patronage integrated by representatives from the public and private
authorities, such as:
The Central Romana Corporation.

Vicini Group.
Corporación Estatal del Azúcar, (CEA).
Codia, (School of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors.)
Autonomous University of Santo Domingo.
The Catholic Church.
Airports XXI Century Company.
The State Secretary of Culture. The State Secretary of Tourism
The State Secretary of Natural Environment
The Managers of Nigua Sugar Mill, Diego Caballero Sugar Mill, Palave Sugar Mill,
Engombe Sugar Mill, Duquesa Sugar Mill, Sanate Sugar Mill. A representative of the
National Office of Cultural Heritage.
Each of the restorer Architects in charge of each of the Sugar Mills.
A representative from each of the Communities.
Page No.58
This Committee will meet once a month on the site of the National Direction of
Cultural Heritage, located on: Hostos 154, Santo Domingo. The coordinating
Committee will function as a Patronage with a Non Profit Status. It will oversee the
smooth administration of each of the Sugar Mills. It will provide the funds necessary
for activities on the Sugar Mills, that are not provided for by the State’s budget. It will
seek funds for archaeological research on the Sugar Mills and their surroundings.
The Patronage will oversee the activities held on the Sugar Mills, and will provide for
all the publicity necessary for these.
The Entities Members of the Patronage that will oversee over the whole complex of the
Six Sugar Mills is composed by outstanding enterprises of the Country.
The Central Romana Corporation is a very successful Sugar Cane enterprise located in
the East of the Dominican Republic. Besides Sugar, they raise cattle. Have a Free Zone
enterprise and a tourist complex that is catalogued as the best in the Caribbean Region.
With a pier where the Caribbean cruise ships dock.
Vicini Group has a series of Sugar Cane Plantations near San Pedro de Macoris, on the
Eastern Region. They also have other enterprises as are steel foundries, banks and
extended properties in the Santo Domingo Colonial Zone.
The Corporación Estatal del Azúcar, (CEA) is the States entity that deals with the States
sugar cane properties of the XX and XXI century. It owns the majority of the XVI cen
tury Sugar Cane Mills.
The Codia, (School of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors) is the school that affiliates
the professionals that work in the construction sector. They manage the House of the
Hacienda Maria, which is on the beach, at the outskirts of Diego Caballero Sugar Mill.
The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, has the ownership of Engombe Sugar
Mill. Besides as an Institution, it has the will to cooperate with the management proj
ect because it is dear to its cultural ends.
Page No.59
May 2004

The Catholic Church has had an outstanding place on the cultural preservation of the
country. In the Route the first Colonial Sugar Mills, its interest resides on the millions
of slaves who’s lives were spent on the fields and the sugar mills, also they are inter
ested on the present population near the sites, It must be remembered that the Catholic
Church was the protector of the native Indians and their rights, also was in charge of
the overall protection of the African slaves.
Airports XXI Century Company, is a new enterprise that runs with the countries´ air
ports. Its vicinity to Duquesa Sugar Mill, compromises the entity, which is interested
in tourist development.
The Secretary of Culture, the National Direction of Cultural Heritage, the Secretary of
Tourism. and the Secretary of Natural Environment, represent the State.
The Patronage will function progressively. It will work for stronger unities of regional
administration, for the effective application of general order decisions and institution
al politics.
The Patronage will approve the decisions of the management of each of the sites in
general questions. Each of the sites management will be in charge of adopting the par
ticular decisions and to verify the correct functioning and the fulfilment of the objec
tives sought by their respective managements.
The Administrative circuits and the management will ensure the participation and inter
vention of local or regional inhabitants in the activities to be held in each area.
A more homogenous development will be promoted among the six Sugar Mill
administrations. For this the minimal parameters will be established, which will reach
all the protected spaces of the system.
A data base must be established with a sufficient interconnection for information about
the services and all activities.
A politic of healthy concessions and permits will be heralded, in order to obtain an

equity on the overall treatment, assure the proper payment for services, and the
incomes resulting from the healthy management plan.
It will seek concessions which will result in a convenience for the environment.
In regard to the finances: The Patronage will aid in the financing plan that will guaran
tee the proper functioning of each of the sites.
Page No.60
Studies will be held to determine the economical benefits and the fiscal rents that the
plan will generate, in order to know how much is generated by the system and how
much is derived to the surrounding society, in order to have a clear and modern vision
for the decision making.
The proposed flowchart that follows, will work for each one of the nominated Sugar
Mills, The sites will depend of the State Secretary of Culture and the Administrative
Patronage and the other represented state authorities, common to the six places.
The different dependences responsible for executing the different activities that include
the setting in value of the places (education, tourism, maintenance, security and stew
ardship). Will be dependant of the Administrative Patronage and the State Secretariat
of Culture.
The State Secretary of Culture through the National Direction of Monumental Heritage
will assign in each case the responsibilities that each dependence must assume and also
the frequencies of the extraordinary meetings, beside the monthly meeting, according
to necessities.
In the economic level it is expected that these Patronages give support for the recep
tion of economic resources that will allow the self-sufficiency in the maintenance of the
sites nominated, along with the funds that the Central Government gives.
4.k. Staffing levels (professional, technical, maintenance).
For each Sugar Mill the National Direction of Monumental Heritage of the State
Secretary of Culture has the following personnel: Six architects with a master degree
in monuments and cultural properties conservation; two archaeologists with a master
degree in monuments and cultural properties conservation and with a specialty in
cultural administration; three architects with a specialty in monuments and cultural
properties conservation, ten architects and three civil engineers, one with a specialty
in structures.
Supplements this team a group of advisory conservative architects with wide experi-
ence in the area.
Page No.61
May 2004
A Museographer with specialty in Museology, Museum Design and Interior Design.

The number of available technicians in the National Direction of Monumental
Heritage include three investigators of cultural properties, a technician in
Archaeology and six restorers of furniture and art works.
Each Sugar Mill has a tourist-cultural guide qualified in the area who is in charge of
the guided visits. With the proposed administration plan, the increment of these is
intended, as the affluence of visitors increases to the sites.
The Maintenance Department of the National Direction of Monumental Heritage has

under its responsibility the maintenance work in these areas with the following per-
sonnel assigned to each Sugar Mill: a supervisor, three workers for cleaning purposes
one person in charge of day security and one in charge of night security.
5. Factors Affecting the Property
5.a. Development Pressures
No considerable pressures exist due to the development in the areas of influence of

the places nominated in the “Route of the first Colonial Sugar Mills of America”
With the exception of Engombe Sugar Mill, of whose buffer area has been urban-
ized partially by the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD).
The surrounding lands in the nominated sites have been dedicated to agriculture and
the cattle raising.
5.b. Environmental Pressures
Considerable environmental pressures doesn´t exist in the sites nominated in the

“Route of the first Colonial Sugar Mills of America.”
The areas of influence and reduction, are not altered climatically.
Page No.62
Management Flowchart
Page No.63
5.c. Natural disasters and preparedness
The National Direction of Monumental Heritage has personnel and resources to cope
with eventual natural disasters that may happen in the nominated sites.
For this end it has begun the training in prevention, mitigation and answer in the face
of natural and cultural risks, of the lower personnel under its care.
Equally, together with other institutions it forms part of the National Commission of
Emergencies (COE) that the Civil Defense coordinates in the national environment.
In such sense, one of the fundamental purposes of the National Direction of

Monumental Heritage consists on the coordination of a program of risk administra-
tion of the monumental group with other state organisms responsible for the conser-
vation of the sites.
5.d. Visitor/tourism pressure
The increment of the affluence of visitors to the nominated sites has brought as a
result the necessary adaptation of these with facilities that improve the quality of the
offered services.
In such sense, the National Address of Monumental Heritage has coordinated with
the state and private organisms responsible for the conservation and popularization of
the national monuments, the implementation in stages, of administration plans in
each site.
Particularly, a considerable increment of visitors has been noticed, in its majority stu-
dents of the basic and half levels that request through the institution, guided visits to
the monumental sites, as a support to their studies plans.
Page No.64
May 2004
5.e. Number of inhabitants within property, buffer zone
5.e.1. Boca de Nigua Sugar Mill: 37 inhabitants.

5.e.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill: 3 inhabitants.
5.e.3. Engombe Sugar Mill: 55 inhabitants.
5.e.4. : Duquesa Sugar Mill: 0 inhabitants.
5.e.5. PalavéSugar Mill: 35 inhabitants.
5.e.6. Sanate Sugar Mill: 8 inhabitants.
6. Monitoring
6.a. Key indicators for measuring state of conservation
Number of periodic inspections carried out annually.

Number of carried out architectural interventions.
Number of consolidated structures.
Number of conserved structures.
Annual visitors’ number.
6.b. Administrative arrangements for monitoring property
The State Secretary of Culture through the National Direction of Monumental

Heritage coordinates the pursuit of permanent financial attendance for the conserva-
tion of the places nominated in the “Route of the first Colonial Sugar Mills colonial
of America” through the funds of the General Budget of the Nation.
Equally, it coordinates the self-management for their conservation through the activi-
ties of tourist promotion that develops the State Secretary of Tourism.
6.c. Results of previous reporting exercises
The archaeological investigations of the nominated sites should be continued with

ends of giving answer to the queries that outline the history of these. The rescued
archaeological material will enrich, by means of a museum in place, the historiogra-
phy of each site.
Page No.65
7. Documentation
7.c. Bibliography
Guitar, Lynne. “Boiling it down: Slavery on the commercial sugarcane ingenios in the Americas
(Hispaniola, 1530-1545) published in Slaves, subjects, and survivors: Blacks in Colonial Latin
America. Jane Landers, Editor, University of New Mexico Press, 2003.
López y Sebastián, Lorenzo E., del Río Moreno, Justo L. “La crisis del siglo XVII en la indus-
tria azucarera antillana y los cambos producidos en su estructura”. Revista Complutense de
Historia de América 23. Madrid: Universidad Complutense, Facultad de Geografía e historia,
Servicio de Publicaciones, 1997. pp. 137-166.
Ratekin, Mervin. “La primera industria azucarera en La Española”. Estudios Sociales, Volumen
XXVII, Número 96, abril-junio 1994. pp. 69-95.
Hispaniola ingenio census from 1530. Archivo General de Indias, Justicia 12, N1, R2, cited in
Mira Caballos, Esteban. El indio antillano: Repartimiento, encomienda y esclavitud. Sevilla:
Ediciones Alfil, Julio, 1997, p. 155.
Alonso de Avila’s census of 1533. Archivo General de Indias, Justicia 12, 149, ff10v-15. Full text
in Sáez, José Luis. La iglesia y el esclavo negro en Santo Domingo: Una historia de tres siglos.
Santo Domingo: Patronato de la Ciudad Colonial de Santo Domingo, Colección Quinto
Centenario, 1994, pp. 267-272.
Alonso de Fuenmayor census of 1545. Data cited in Joseph Peguero, Luis. Historia de la con-
quista de la Isla Española de Santo Domingo trasumptada el año de 1762: Traducida de la
Historia General de las Indias escrita por Antonio de Herrera, Cronista Mayor de S Majestad, y
de las Indias, y de Castilla. Santo Domingo: Publicaciones del Museo de las Casas Reales, 1975,
pp. 217-221. Originally published in 1763.
Gorjon’s inventory. Archivo General de Indias, Patronato Real, Legajo 173, No. 1, Ramo 8, text
in Inchaustegui, Marino. Reales Cédulas y correspondencia de Gobernadores de Santo Domingo
de la Regencia del Cardenal Cisneros en adelante. Vol. 1, 1517-1555. Madrid: Colección
Histórico Documental Trujilloniana, 1958. pp. 233-258.
Slave ordinances of January 6, 1522, the first ordinances promulgated for African laves in the
New World. Archivo General de Indias, Patronato 295, No. 104, full text in Deive, Carlos
Esteban. Los guerrilleros negros en Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo: Editora Centenario, 2002.
pp. 281-289.
Page No.66
May 2004
Fondeur, Nerva. The Sugar Mill of the XVI Century in La Española: Setting in Value
of the Sugar Mill of Engombe, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Thesis to opt
for a Master title in Monuments and Cultural Sites Conservation. UNPHU, 1999.
Duval, Santiago. Inform of the archaeological prospects carried out in the ruins of the
Engombe Sugar Mill. Dominican Republic, 1999.
Julián, Amadeo. Banks, Sugar Mills and slaves in the colonial time. Collection
Banreservas. Banco de Reservas of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 1997.
Restructuring program and growth of Santo Domingo and the National District. City
council of the National District, Italian Cooperation, Santo Domingo, 1993.
Hydraulic Works in Colonial America. Ministry of Public Works, Transport and

Environment, Madrid, 1993.
VIII International Congress for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage: Records
September 1992. Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Environment, Madrid,
1992.
Palm, Erwin Walter. The architectural Monuments of La Española. Santo Domingo

Publisher, Santo Domingo, 1984.
Deive, Carlos Esteban. The black slavery in Santo Domingo. Museum Man
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 1980.
Utrera, Cipriano. Historical news of Santo Domingo. Publisher shop, Santo

Domingo, 1979.
Rodríguez Demorizi, Emilio. Maps and plans of Santo Domingo. Taller Publisher,
Santo Domingo, 1979.
Ugarte, María. Colonial monuments. Museum of Royal Houses, Santo Domingo,

1977.
Blanco Larrazábal, Carlos. The black and the slavery in Santo Domingo. Julio D.
Postigo and Sons Publishers, Santo Children Domingo, 1975.
Page No.67
Peguero, Luis Joseph. History of Santo Domingo’s conquest. Museum of the Royal
Houses, Santo Domingo, 1975. 2 vol.
Pérez Vidal, José. The culture of the sugar cane on Spanish East. Superior Council of
Scientific Investigations, Instituto Miguel de Cervantes, Madrid, 1973.
Sánchez, Juan J. The cane in Santo Domingo. Taller Publisher, Santo Domingo,
1972.
Barinas Coiscou, Sócrates. Black rebellions of La Española Quality Printings, Santo

Domingo, 1968.
Fernández de Oviedo y Valdéz, Gonzalo. General and natural history of Indies.

Library of Christian Authors, Madrid, 1959.
Incháustegui, Marino. Real identifications and correspondences of Governors of

Santo Domingo. Collection historical trujilloniana documental, Santo Domingo,
1958. 5 vol.
Saco, José Antonio. History of the slavery of the African race in the New World and
especially in the-Spanish American countries. Cultural publisher, Havana, 1938.
7.d. Address where inventory, records and archives are held
Centro de Inventario de Bienes Culturales (CIBC), Vicente Celestino Duarte street,

number 17, Colonial City of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
8. Signature on behalf of the State Party
Lic. Tony Raful

Secretario de Estado de Cultura
Dr. Arch. César Iván Feris Iglesias

Director Nacional de Patrimonio Monumental
Page No.68

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Index

Sustained by the system of exploitation of the indigenous and African

Located in appropriate geographical areas for the employment of animal

The industrial work needed of a great quantity of specialized manpower, as

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

1. Identification of the Property

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

INDRHI: National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

2. Justification for Inscription

2.a. Statement of significance

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

2.a.1 Boca of Nigua Sugar Mill

It represents an architectural group integrated by the physical spaces required in the

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

2.a.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill

Diego Caballero Sugar Mill, represents an architectural group integrated by the

2.a.3. Engombe Sugar Mill

Engombe Sugar Mill represents an architectural group integrated by the physical

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

2.c.2.Diego Caballero Sugar Mill.

2.c.3. Engombe Sugar Mill.

2.c.4. Palavé Sugar Mill.

2.c.5. La Duquesa Sugar Mill.

2.c.6. Sanate Sugar Mill:

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

“to) ii) to attest a considerable exchange of influences, during a concrete period or in

“to) iv) to constitute an eminently representative example of a construction type or of

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

3.a. Description of Property

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

3.a.1. Nigua Sugar Mill

The monument possesses also other structures not liberated to date.

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

Some of the structures have been partially restored.

3.a.3. Engombe Sugar Mill

Engombe Sugar Mill is located in the Haina oriental riverbank.

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

3.b.1. Boca de Nigua Sugar Mill

In 1740 in an inventory of agricultural establishments and cattlemen appears its

The Route of the First Colonial Sugar Mills of America

3.b.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill.

In 1546 the Chronicler of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo included it in the

3.b.3. Engombe Sugar Mill

In 1546 the Chronicler of Indies Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo includes it in the

In 1740 in an inventory of agricultural establishments and cattlemen appeared its pro-

3.b.4. Palavé Sugar Mill

On the house of two levels little historical documentation exists.

3.b.5. La Duquesa Sugar Mill.

In 1740 in an inventory of agricultural establishments and cattlemen appears its propri-

Type and date of more recent documents relating to the property

Type and date of more recent documents relating to the property

A historical source of general Consultation corresponds to:

By the XVII century a relationship of “Sugar Mills of Santo Domingo’s neighbors”

3.c.1. Boca de Nigua Sugar Mill.

3.c.2. Diego Caballero Sugar Mill.

3.c.3.Engombe Sugar Mill.

Duval, Santiago. Inform of the archaeological prospects carried out in

3.c.4. Palavé Sugar Mill.

3.c.5. La Duquesa Sugar Mill.

3.c.6. Sanate Sugar Mill.