In March 1856, William Walker attacked Guanacaste as part of his grand plan to conquer Latin American countries under the name of the United States. Costa Ricans did not give in to Walker's forces; citizens from all social classes responded enthusiastically when President Mora called for an army of 9,000 men to chase Walker out of their country. As said in the national anthem, an American blacksmith helped the Ticos "forge their simple tools into arms" and they headed towards the Nicaraguan border.
A large farmhouse in Guanacaste served as Walker's headquarters. According to legend, a young drummer boy, Juan Santamaría, ran towards the house carrying a lit torch with the intent of burning the house down. He succeeded in torching the roof before he died a national hero in a storm of bullets. His act of bravery helped the Ticos win the fight against Walker and reclaim their loved nation. Today the main airport in San José is named after the young hero, Juan Santamaría.
However, the soldiers returning from Guanacaste brought home an even deadlier enemy -- cholera. In 1856 and 1857 the deadly bacterial infection killed 27,000 out of 110,000 Costa Ricans.
Costa Ricans do not take their liberty for granted and still celebrate the heroic act of Juan Santamaría every April 11th. This event shows the unity of Costa Ricans and how protective they are of their beloved nation. The cholera outbreak reveals how susceptible Costa Rica was to diseases and how destructing they could be.
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