The structure commonly known as the Asilo de Ciegos (Home of the Blind) was built between 1896 and 1897 to serve as hospital for the city of Ponce's military garrison.

The Royal Spanish Engineering Corps constructed this building in the then popular neoclassic style which was common to the old San Juan area, but was not at the time prevalent in Ponce.

Dr. Guillermo Vives performed numerous successful surgeries on its residents, restoring eyesight to approximately 95% of its patients.

[5] The institution sought to teach the blind skills to become independent citizens, and permanent housing was provided to those who could not care for themselves.

Contributing elements to the style are its massive and sober exterior elements consisting of wide walls and pilasters crowned with tuscan order capitols, planar window surrounds, and a set of steps giving access to the main portico which projects form the main facade.

Four tuscan order pilasters, a simple frieze, cornice, and parapet complete the portico's decoration giving it the appearance of being slightly taller than the rest of the building.

[2] The structure was erected around a rectangular central patio with arched galleries on all sides that serve as transitional elements to the office and room areas located throughout its periphery, all of which are typical of the period and style.

A series of symmetrically-placed thick walls carrying wooden beams, probably of ausubo or other Puerto Rican hard wood, support the brick roof.