It was built in 1870 as the home of Ermelindo Salazar, a prominent citizen and businessman in the city as well as its mayor in 1880.

Since 1992 it serves as home to the Centro Cultural de Ponce,[1] "actively promoting the artistic development on [Ponce]’s rich educational and intellectual environment",[3] including the Noches de Galería, "where renowned as well as promising painters, artisans and sculptors exhibit their works and showcase their talent.

Its style incorporates elements of Colonial Spanish and Ponce Creole architecture.

[1] The building was originally built as the former home of Ermelindo Salazar, a prominent landowner, merchant, banker, as well as mayor of Ponce in 1880.

[1] The line exclusively communicated the owners’ family residence with their commercial offices at the Ponce port.