We the Spanish People

Curated by Eva García, the exhibition showcases Spain’s contributions to the birth of the United States, and traces Spanish influence in the country from the 1500s to the late 19th century.

The Spanish contribution to the War of Independence involved deeds that went beyond the wars in the disputed territory. Victories from Lexington to Yorktown required the participation of thousands of Hispanics fighting in other areas of the conflict: the Caribbean, Central America, and the Mediterranean. The Spanish soldiers, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Mexicans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Nicaraguans fought by sea and land in the service of General Washington’s troops. It is estimated that more that three thousand died in the battle.

The Legacy Association’s We the Spanish People invites you to learn more about the Spanish presence and its footprint in the U.S. from 1513 to the late XIX century. Explore Spain’s role in U.S. independence in an exhibition curated by Eva García, supported by the Spanish Ministry of Defense.

We the Spanish People

We the Spanish People is the new project of The Legacy, a tribute to the passage of the Spanish through North American territory that began with a video and a book presented at the National Library of Spain in September 2023. The book inspired by traditional postcards invites readers on a unique journey through the history of Spain in the present-day United States. It offers brief, visually impactful messages exploring the unknown history of the Viceroyalty of New Spain in the current territory.

The book tells the story of the first Spaniards arriving in those lands in the 16th century, highlighting the kingdom of Spain’s contributions to the birth of the United States of America. This journey spans over 500 years, documented with data that should be studied on both sides of the Atlantic. The Spanish legacy deserves recognition in history, and this work serves as a starting point for understanding it.