HistoryPlaza

Plaza de Espana Hatgåtña Guahan 1924

The Department of Administration is located in the West Wing of Governor Manuel F.L. Guerrero administration building. It is situated next to the Plaza de Espana at the corner of Aspinall Avenue and West O’Brien Drive in Hagatnå (Agana).

Title VI of the Guam Code Annotated established the Department of Administration as the central agency responsible for the transactions of internal business activity ofthe Government of Guam.

The primary responsibility of the Department is to provide the Government of Guam with fiscal, logistical. Administrative and computer services support necessary for the continued welfare of the people of Guam.

	Historically, The Governor’s Office and other agencies have always been located in and around the Plaza de Espana. The Governor’s Palace and the Plaza were erected during the Spanish Administration. The governors from Spain, the United States Navy, and the Japanese Military Commander occupied it during their control of the island.
Click on picture to enlarge.	In 1668 Spain claimed the island as its colony. It ruled the island from 1668 until June 1898 when the United States Navy captured the island during the Spanish American War.
	The U. S. Navy governed Guam from June 1898 until December 10, 1941 when the U.S. Navy Governor surrendered the island to the Japanese invading force commander.
	The Japanese military commander took control of the island from December 10, 1941 until July 21, 1944 when the U.S. Forces recaptured the island during World War II.
	After World War II, the U.S. Naval Government again resumed control of the island. It started to erect Quonset huts and wood & tin structures next to the Plaza, to be used as government agency’s office. Once again, Hagatna become the center of the island’s governing body.

In 1960, the current administration building was built as central administration offices of the Government of Guam. Its located on the lot adjacent to the Plaza de Espana where the first Bank of Guam and other government agencies were once located right after World War II. Initially, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s Office were located in the building from 1960 until 1986 when they were moved to there present location at the Governor Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex in Adelup.

Hagåtña is not only the center of the Government of Guam but also the center of the Chamorro’s spiritual life.