Welcome to the Spanish Benevolent Society

Since our founding in 1868 and in accordance with our by-laws, the primary objective of the La Nacional - Spanish Benevolent Society is to “promote, encourage and spread the spirit of fraternity and solidarity among Spanish and Hispanic-American residents of this country.”

In those early years, the Society served as an essential life line for Spaniards immigrating to the United States – providing food and shelter; tending to their health care needs; arranging afterlife services; and acting as their de-facto home away from home in New York.  While the needs of our members have changed greatly since that time, the Spanish Benevolent Society remains committed to assisting all Spanish-speakers who seek a new way of life in New York.

Spaniards of all kinds: tourists, artisans, professionals and many others have benefitted from our corner of Spain. It has served as a meeting ground for political dissidents and revolutionaries, avant-garde poets and artists - including the groundbreaking director Luis Buñuel and the modernist poet Federico Garcia Lorca, whose first night in New York was here at La Nacional.

Housed in a graceful brownstone on 14th street – at the crossroads of Greenwich Village, Chelsea and the Meatpacking District – La Nacional members share their love for Spain, Spanish culture and cuisine.  We believe in a diverse, multi-cultural Spain and support the expression and promotion of all her languages and customs.   At the Society we hold several events each week that are topical and relevant expressions of our diverse culture.

La Nacional – Spanish Benevolent Society is also committed to the historical preservation of our  dynamic and growing community. Our Society is the final remnant of the once-thriving block on 14th street between 7th and 8th avenues known as “Little Spain.”  The Society was the heart of the block then and will remain at the core of the revival of our “Pequeña España”.  Finally, as the first non-native settlers of this great nation and the mother country to 50 million American citizens who speak our language we feel it is our obligation and to promote and enrich the close ties between Spain and the United States. 

La Nacional - Spanish Benevolent Society is an American not-for-profit, 501(c)(4) charitable organization.