The Presidents

Costa Rica's Independance Day

Sep 15, 1821

Guerra de Ochomogo

Mar 9, 1823

First civil war of Costa Rica. As a result, capital changes from Cartago to San Jose.

Anexion del Partido de Nicoya

Jul 25, 1824

Nicoya becomes apart of the state.

Guerra de la Liga

Mar 10, 1835

Oligarchy State

Period: Mar 1, 1840 to Mar 1, 1870

Tomas Guardia Gutierrez (1870-1882)

Mar 1, 1870

Tomas Guardia Gutierrez served from 1870-1882. During his term, he established the Constitution of 1871 and Banco de Costa Rica. He also made San Lucas a jail and started the exportation of bananas to the U.S.

Liberal State

Period: Mar 1, 1870 to Mar 1, 1948

Prospero Fernandez Oreamuno (1882-1885)

Jul 20, 1882

Prospero Fernandez Oreamuno was very important in Costa Rican history. First, he established laws that separated church and state as well as laws allowing civil marriage and divorce. He also established electricity in San Jose.

Bernardo Soto (1885-1890)

Mar 1, 1885

Bernardo Soto finished the railroad to the Caribbean, which helped to expand banana exportation. He established many schools (including Liceo de Costa Rica and Colegio Superior de Senoritas) and founded the first libriary, museum, and Cruz Roja in Costa Rica.

Carlos Duran Cartin (1889-1890)

Mar 1, 1889

Carlos Duran Cartin served as president from 1889-190. He established santitorium of antituberculosis

Jose Joaquin Rodriguez Zeldon (1890-1894)

Mar 1, 1890

Jose Joaquin Rodriguez Zeldon served as president from 1890-1994. During his term, he established night schools for adults as well as the first telephone service in Costa Rica. He also started the constrution of Teatro Nacional.

Rafael Iglesias Castro (1894-1898)

Mar 1, 1894

Rafael Iglesias Castro served two terms as president from 1894-1902. During his presidency, he started the railroad to the Pacific, established the colon as the Costa Rican currency, and completed the construction of Teatro Nacional.

Cleto Gonzales Viquez (1906-1910 y 1928-1932)

May 8, 1906

During his term, Cleto Gonzales Viquez accomplished many things that benefited Costa Rica. He started the sewer system, paved the streets of San Jose, and finished railroad to Pacific.

Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno (1910-1914, 1924-1928, 1932-1936)

May 8, 1910

Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno served three terms. During one of his terms, in 1910, Cartago was hit by a powerful earthquake that destroyed the city and killed thousands. One of his greatest undertakings was to rebuild the city. Besides that, he established the first laws for work related accidents as well as INS, Costa Rica's first insurance company.