years
of Spanish culture,
community, and legacy
in the heart of NYC
In the autumn of 1868, a small group of Spaniards gathered at 151 Bowery Street in Manhattan to found what would become La Nacional – the Spanish Benevolent Society.
Their goal was clear: to create a space that would “promote, encourage and spread the spirit of fraternity and solidarity among Spanish and Hispanic-American residents of this country.”
A home for the Spanish Community since 1868
What began as a modest social center soon became a vital lifeline for new arrivals. The Society provided shelter and meals, addressed health care needs, arranged afterlife services, and served as a true home away from home for generations of immigrants finding their way in New York City.
1868
The beginning
La Nacional – Spanish Benevolent Society is founded to help arriving immigrants from Spain. The Society’s original home is a small building under the Brooklyn Bridge.
1898
A fractured celebration
The US goes to war with Spain and the plight of Spanish immigrants gets complicated. La Nacional had been celebrating annual picnics since 1868 but is denied authorization this year.
1925
A home of our own
The Society acquires the stately brownstone at 239 West 14th Street – the building you are now in – as its headquarters. In June of that year, it opens a restaurant on the ground floor. The neighborhood of ‘Little Spain’ is born.
1929
The poet arrives
The great Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca arrives in New York. He is greeted off the boat by the president of La Nacional and is said to have spent his first night here. ‘Poeta en Nueva York’ remains one of the most important works ever written about our city.
1931 - 1939
Echoes of a distant war
The political unrest and division that leads to the Spanish Civil War echoes throughout the Spanish colony here in New York. The outcome of the war – a devastated country and subsequent dictatorship – means that most Spanish immigrants will never realize their hope of returning home.
1945 - 1969
The golden years
The wars are over and La Nacional enters a golden age. Membership is at an all-time high and businesses like Casa Moneo, Cafe Bustelo and Goya Foods thrive in the downtown Spanish community.
1970 - Today
Resilience & renewal
As ‘Little Spain’ begins to fade, La Nacional enters a three-decade period of decline – culminating its near closure in the early 2000s. Thankfully, today it stands strong once again as a cultural and social beacon for the Spanish-speaking and local community.
Little Spain
Remembering a lost neighborhood
For much of the 20th century, the block of 14th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues was known as “Little Spain.” Lined with Spanish shops, bars, and bakeries, it pulsed with the rhythms of Iberian life.
At the heart of this neighborhood stood La Nacional, the last surviving remnant of Little Spain. Today, we honor this heritage by remaining a center of community and culture—and by helping lead the revival of Spanish presence and pride on 14th Street.
A living culture
Spaniards from all walks of life—tourists, artisans, professionals, and artists—have found community here. Events at La Nacional continue every week, offering topical and relevant expressions of our diverse culture through music, art, language, and gastronomy.
Testimonials
We are proud to be a bridge between Spain and the United States—a link rooted in shared language, values, and history.
Join the legacy!
Support our mission and be a part of the next 150 years.
Whether you’re Spanish by birth, by heritage, or simply in spirit, La Nacional welcomes you. We are a registered 501(c)(4) nonprofit dedicated to community, cultural preservation, and connection.
Our Gallery
Explore more than a century of history and culture through images: