South America’s most distinguished peninsula’s name has its origin in its geographical location : Maldonado bay’s east end (Punta del Este) . However it has had other denominations: in 1516 Juan Diaz de Solis named it Santa Maria, and that is how it is known in cartographic pictures of that time. At the beginning of Uruguay’s independent life, the Gobierno Central (Central Gevernment) was suggested to found in the east bay’s end , a village with the name “Ituzaingo” , in the memory of the “criollos” (descendent of europeans, born in what used to be Spain’s territory in America) victory against Brasilian’s imperial forces in 1827.

One of the first constructions in the peninsula. As well as the construction of the first Don Pedro Risso’s Hotel, in 1889. The village habituated by fisherman , and customhouse officers, who saw a constant increase in the population during summer seasons, with people who began to see Punta del Este as an excellent place to relax , as well as enjoying the natural views the peninsula had to offer.

In 1906 , Punta del Este had 492 habitants, 111 constructed houses , 20 under construction , and 300 about to be constructed, many of its habitants already had dreams, and the initiative in making Punta del Este a main tourist location, similar to the European’s Biarritz and Brighton. It was born as a city on July 5th of 1907 , after the President Dr. Claudio Williman’s law 3186 was set, officially declaring “… with the denomination of Punta del Este , including the houses settled in Punta del Este, Departamento de Maldonado” . At the moment in which was decided to turn Punta del Este into a city , Punta del Este consisted in dozens of houses located in the definitive defined peninsula area , effected by the surveyor Francisco Surroca , and set official in 1889 . As far as it is known the beach light was first habilitated in 1860 , and in 1885 the customhouse was constructed there . And its still in function. In 1888 the first phone service was installed, as well as the same traffic light, known as “Antonio Mrak’s traffic light”. Even though years before the enormous future of Punta del Este as one of the region’s main touristic location was already predicted, though people use to thing that it would happen if a rail road or any other secure transport was established from Montevideo to Punta del Este.

For this, is reasonable to ask : Which was the inauguration date of Punta del Este? , when William declared it “city” or when it began to have stable citizens. The answer to that question will still be a reason of debate until new notice, until the official history of a Punta del Este of that time is written , or at least published .

By: Prof. Daniel Coira (UdelaR))