Spanish Benevolent Society facts for kids
La Nacional is a special place in New York City. It's a cultural center started by people from Spain to help the Spanish community. It's actually the oldest Spanish cultural organization in the whole United States!
History
For over 150 years, many famous Spanish artists, writers, and important people have lived at La Nacional as resident artists. Some of these well-known figures include Picasso, Dalí, Buñuel, and Federico García Lorca.
In 2010, a Spanish-American filmmaker and writer named Artur Balder lived there for more than a year. He then made a documentary called Little Spain. This film showed the amazing, untold story of La Nacional for the very first time. The center has a huge collection of over 450 photos and 150 documents. These have never been shown to the public before! They tell the history of the "Little Spain" streets in New York City throughout the 1900s.
What La Nacional Does
Since it was founded in 1868, the main goal of La Nacional (also known as the Centro Español – Spanish Benevolent Society) has been to "promote, encourage and spread the spirit of friendship and togetherness among Spanish and Hispanic-American people living in this country."
In its early years, La Nacional was a very important support system for Spaniards who were moving to the United States. It helped them by providing food and a place to stay. It also helped with their healthcare needs and even arranged services after someone passed away. It was truly like a second home for them in New York.
The Spanish Benevolent Society is a non-profit organization in America. This means it's a charity and doesn't make money for private owners. The Society and its building on 14th Street are owned by their members. They get support from membership fees and partnerships with companies.
See also
In Spanish: La Nacional para niños
- List of American gentlemen's clubs
