first masonry building erected in 1780, current church originally built in 1836) was rebuilt in 1922. The original redesign by architect Luis Perocier sought to restore the building to its original splendor. Not only had the 1918 Puerto Rico earthquake destroyed the temple's ceiling, but a lightning bolt also struck and tore down a wedge-shaped corner of one of its two bell towers. However, lack of proper funding and the extent of the damage of the original structure forced the actual rebuilding of the to be scaled-down considerably.
In 1911, the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was founded in Mayag�ez. Today it is known as the University of Puerto Rico at Mayag�ez (UPRM) � the Caribbean's leading science and engineering institution.
Between 1962 and 1998 Mayag�ez was a major tuna canning and processing center. At one time, 80% of all tuna products consumed in the United States were packed in Mayag�ez (the biggest employer, StarKist, had 11,000 employees working three daily shifts in the local plant's heyday). Mayag�ez was also a major textile industry hub; until very recently, almost a quarter of all drill uniforms used by the United States Army were sewn in the city.Today, Mayag�ez is the fifth-largest city and is considered one of the most important cities in the island. The city itself is centered around the impressive Spanish-style Plaza Colon, a tribute to Christopher Columbus, whose stature stands in the middle of the square, surrounded by 16 bronze statues. In addition, Mayag�ez has become a major college town with the establishment of the UPRM, the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Law School and the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
