Lin-Manuel Miranda and Google introduce Puerto Rican art to everyone

When Google brought hundreds of Puerto Rican artworks online Thursday for the world to enjoy, the spirit of Lin-Manuel Miranda was, as the Hamilton lyrics go, in the room where it happened.

The actor, composer and lyricist partnered with the Google Arts & Culture initiative to digitize treasures from the island, some in exquisitely high resolution that allows viewers to study the works down to their intricate shadows and brush strokes. 

“My family and I have visited the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and all of the museum partners, and fell in love with the trove of art available from San Juan to Ponce and everywhere across the island,” Miranda said in a statement. 

Thursday marks phase one of the project by bringing 350 works from across five centuries online. The project ultimately aims to digitize thousands more artifacts with historical and cultural value to highlight and share Puerto Rico’s rich cultural heritage. 

“What you see in tourism magazines is only the tip of the iceberg,” the project page reads. “There’s more to what Puerto Rico is and who Puerto Ricans are.”