America&Spain250

An initiative for the Celebration of Spain’s Relationship with the United States, 1776 – 2026

PROGRAMS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

The organizations and individuals behind the initiative are currently developing educational programs and cultural activities across United States in celebration of 250 years of the relationship between the United States, Spain, and the Spanish-speaking world.

Online Activities

Quizstory Podcast Award in the U.S. - Win a Cultural Trip to Spain

Deadline: March 25th 2026
Collaborators: Queen Sofía Spanish Institute, Gilder Lehrman Institute, CIS University, International Studies Foundation and Iberdrola

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Educational Platform “Spanish Influence on American History”

Launched in September 2024
Collaborators: Queen Sofía Spanish Institute, Royal Academy of History, Gilder Lehrman Institute

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Online Teacher Workshop: Recursos Didácticos y Digitales: La contribución de España a la Guerra de Independencia de EE.UU.

April 26th 2025
Collaborators: Agregaduría de Educación de España en EE.UU., QSSI

Link

NEXT EVENT

Congreso Internacional “La Monarquía española y la independencia de los Estados Unidos: 250º aniversario”

Date: May 5th & 6th

Collaborators: Instituto CEU de Estudios Históricos, Fundación Reina Sofía, QSSI y Academia de las Ciencias y Artes Militares

Link

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The America&Spain250 Initiative

COLLABORATORS

The America&Spain250 initiative was created on July 4th 2023 by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute. America&Spain250 is proud to collaborate with the following organizations:

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Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Militares

The Academies are non-profit institutions dedicated to the study of a branch of knowledge. The Academy of Military Sciences and Arts studies and disseminates the moral values, history, and cultural heritage of the Spanish Armed Forces and Civil Guard, and analyzes the present and future of military technology and operations. It currently has 117 academics.

Association for Spanish and Portuguese Historical Studies

The Association for Spanish and Portuguese Historical Studies (ASPHS), founded in 1969, promotes the scholarly study of Spain and Portugal through History and related disciplines. Membership is open to all interested in Spanish and Portuguese historical studies. The ASPHS sponsors an annual conference, the journal Bulletin for Spanish and Portuguese Historical Studies, and awards for books and articles.

Archivo General de Indias

Since 1785, the General Archive of the Indies has been dedicated to the preservation of documents, their description and to facilitating the consultation of this documentary heritage. This Archive is the custodian of the documentation produced by the institutions created by the Spanish Administration for the government and administration of the Spanish overseas territories.

America250 Louisiana

The Louisiana America250 Commission is dedicated to commemorating the 250th anniversary of our nation by highlighting Louisiana’s significant contributions to the founding and development of the United States.

Consejería de Educación de España en EE.UU. y Canadá

The Department of Education of the Embassy of Spain in the U.S. and Canada promotes Spanish education, culture and language, supporting students and professionals interested in studying in Spain. It collaborates with educational authorities, institutions and local organizations to facilitate academic and cultural exchange between the two countries.

Cultural Office of the Consulate General of Spain

Foreign action in the field of culture, science and education plays a strategic role in Spain's foreign policy. In the USA, Spain promotes those topics through a wide range of bodies, events, partnerships and collaborations. This is the task of the Consulate General in New York reaching five States: CT, DE, NJ, NY and PA.

Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C.

The Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C. aims to promote Spanish culture and science in the U.S. through meaningful exchanges between institutions and artists, while fostering strong bilateral relations between Spain and the United States.

Dirección General de Bilingüismo de la Consejería de Educación, Ciencia y Universidades, Region of Madrid

La Dirección General de Bilingüismo de la Consejería de Educación, Ciencia y Universidades impulsa la enseñanza de idiomas en centros educativos, fomentando el aprendizaje bilingüe y plurilingüe. Desarrolla programas, formación docente y concursos para mejorar la competencia lingüística del alumnado y potenciar la internacionalización del sistema educativo.

Daughters of the American Revolution

One of the largest patriotic women’s service organizations in the world, DAR has close to 190,000 members in chapters across the United States and the world. DAR members promote historic preservation, education and patriotism via commemorative events, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, service to veterans, community service and more.

Friends of the Cabildo

Friends of the Cabildo, a nonprofit founded in 1956, supports the Louisiana State Museum. It enhances the museum's role as an educational, historical, and cultural resource. The organization has grown into a large statewide membership, actively broadening and supporting the museum's mission to collect, preserve, and exhibit artifacts reflecting Louisiana's history and culture.

Fundación Reina Sofía

The Queen Sofía Foundation's objectives, included in its Statutes, are the promotion, help and development of the needs, physical as well as spiritual, of all types of men and women, and their fullest integration within the social community, encouraging and defending the citizens' lawful rights and aspirations, the works of literature, the arts and sciences, the regional and local traditions, Spain's artistic and cultural heritage, the acquisition of human, technical and professional abilities, the environment and, generally, everything related to the ideas of progress, welfare and justice.

Fundación Ramón Areces

The Fundación is dedicated to supporting the talent, scientific capabilities, and work of young Spanish researchers and professionals. By bringing the scientific and technological vanguard from abroad to Spain, the Foundation contributes to enhancing the international presence of Spanish science. It aims to disseminate knowledge in the fields of Science and Humanities, promoting collaboration and the collective effort in research projects to accelerate innovation through shared objectives.

Gilder Lehrman Institute

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History was founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, visionaries and lifelong supporters of American history education. The Institute is the leading nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to K–12 history education while also serving the general public. Its mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources.

Hispanic Society of America

Located on the historic Audubon Terrace, the Hispanic Society Museum & Library houses one of the premier collections of Spanish and Latin American art in the United States. Visitors can admire masterpieces by Francisco de Goya and Joaquín Sorolla, among others, and enjoy innovative public programs and special exhibitions.

Instituto Cervantes New York

The Instituto Cervantes is a non-profit institution established by the Government of Spain. As the Spanish Cultural Center in New York, its mission is to promote the teaching of the Spanish language and Spain’s co-official languages while fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures of Spanish-speaking countries worldwide.

PostClassical Ensemble

Founded in 2003 by Angel Gil-Ordóñez and music historian Joseph Horowitz, PCE has been a pioneer in transforming the concert experience through innovative programming and with collaborations across artistic mediums. Our humanities-infused programming tells stories— exploring music in its cultural and historical context, and it often integrates theater, dance, film, and visual art, as well as folk, indigenous, and popular music and instruments.

Queen Sofía Spanish Institute

Queen Sofía Spanish Institute is a New York-based nonprofit corporation founded in 1954 to stimulate American interest in the art, culture, customs, language, literature and history of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world. The QSSI strives to share the contributions of the Spanish-speakers to the history and culture of the United States and by showcasing the excellence of the Spanish-speaking world in numerous fields.

Museo Naval

The Naval Museum of Madrid is a state-owned cultural entity which mission is to acquire, conserve, communicate and exhibit for educational and contemplation purposes, pieces of historical, scientific and technical value related to naval activity, in order to disseminate the maritime history of Spain, contribute to safeguarding its traditions and promote national maritime awareness.

Royal Academy of History of Spain

Founded in 1738, this prestigious institution is still fully active to serve as a leading authority on historical research and preservation of Spain’s rich historical heritage with such projects as the Portal of Hispanic History; a universal and fundamental tool for the Hispanic world on both sides of the Atlantic.

St. Charles County Historical Society

St. Charles County Historical Society is an organization which was founded in 1956 with a mission to preserve the rich history of St. Charles County. In 2009, the Society merged with the St. Charles County Genealogical Society and the mission expanded to foster an understanding and appreciation of all aspects of Saint Charles County Missouri history and genealogy.

Texas State Historical Society

The Texas State Historical Association was organized on March 2, 1897, for lay and professional historians to document and celebrate the state’s complex and diverse history. It supports and follows the tenets, methods, and practices advocated by the professional historical community. Our mission is to foster the appreciation, understanding, and teaching of Texas History through scholarships, programs, and activities that encourage and promote research, preservation, and publication.

The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati

The mission of the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati is to ensure that all Americans understand and appreciate the legacy of the American Revolution and the revolutionary generation. We support advanced study, present exhibitions and other public programs, and provide learning resources for teachers and students.

Virginia Museum of History & Culture

Founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical Society, the VMHC, a private, non-profit organization, is the oldest museum and cultural organization in Virginia, and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the United States. The museum cares for a renowned collection of more than nine million items representing the far-reaching story of Virginia.

About the Initiative

The initiative’s mission is to celebrate 250 years of the shared past, present and continued friendship between the United States, Spain, and the Spanish-speaking world.

Starting with the significant yet little-understood role of Spain in America’s War of Independence, Spain’s contributions to the history and development of the United States are many and diverse. They span numerous realms: science, medicine, agriculture and technology, along with language, literature, religion and the arts. The initiative aims to increase public awareness of these contributions and celebrate their importance over the course of 250 years of Spain’s shared history with the United States.

The initiative also seeks to enrich the understanding of the complex, changing, yet enduring tripartite relationship between Spain, Spanish-speaking America and the United States.

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