Little Spain, Manhattan facts for kids
Little Spain (which means Pequeña España in Spanish) was a special neighborhood in New York City. It was located in the Manhattan area. This was where many people from Spain first settled when they moved to the United States. Little Spain was found between the Chelsea and Greenwich Village neighborhoods. It was an important place for the Spanish community for many years.
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History of Little Spain
Little Spain was mainly located on 14th Street in Manhattan. This was between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. People who lived there often called this part of 14th Street Calle Catorce, which means "Street Fourteen". They also called it "Little Spain".
Early Spanish Settlers
The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe was a very important place. It was started in 1902. This was around the time when many Spanish people began to move into the area. The church became a central part of their community.
Spanish Businesses and Culture
Over time, many Spanish businesses opened in Little Spain. One famous place was Casa Moneo, a store that sold Spanish food and gifts. It has been at 210 West 14th Street since 1929. Other popular Spanish places included restaurants like La Bilbaína and El Faro Restaurant. There was also a well-known Spanish dress shop called Iberia.
The heart of the Spanish-American community in this area had two main landmarks. These were the Spanish Benevolent Society and the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This church was the first in Manhattan to offer mass in both Latin and Spanish.
St. James Feast Day
Just like other immigrant neighborhoods in Manhattan, Little Spain had its own special celebration. This was the feast day of St. James. It was held every June. During this festival, a statue of St. James was paraded down 14th Street. The street was closed to traffic for a whole week for the celebration. People enjoyed food festivals and shows of traditional Spanish folklore. This festival continued until the mid-1990s.
Documentary Film
In 2010, a documentary film called Little Spain was made. It was directed and written by Artur Balder. The film showed the history of the Spanish-American community in Manhattan. It brought together many old photographs and documents. These had never been shown to the public before. The documentary helped tell the story of Little Spain throughout the 20th Century.
Famous Residents
Even some famous people lived in Little Spain. For example, the artist Virginia Admiral and her son, Robert De Niro, lived there. They had a studio at 219 West 14th Street. This building was owned by a Spanish businessman named José García. Robert De Niro lived in the heart of Little Spain during the 1950s after his parents divorced.
See also
In Spanish: Little Spain para niños
