Spanish Benevolent Society facts for kids
La Nacional is a special place in New York City. It was started by people from Spain to help the Spanish community there. It's the oldest Spanish cultural group in the entire United States!
History of La Nacional
For over 150 years, many famous Spanish artists, writers, and important people have lived at La Nacional. These include well-known figures like Picasso, Dalí, Buñuel, and Federico García Lorca. They stayed there as resident artists, meaning they lived and worked in the building.
In 2010, a Spanish-American filmmaker and writer named Artur Balder lived at La Nacional for over a year. He created a documentary called Little Spain. This film was the first time the hidden history of La Nacional was shown to the public. The documentary used more than 450 old photographs and 150 documents. These items had never been seen before by many people. They tell the story of the "Little Spain" streets in New York City throughout the 1900s.
What La Nacional Does
Since it began 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 fraternity and solidarity among Spanish and Hispanic-American residents of this country.” This means they want to help people from Spain and Latin America feel like a family and support each other.
In its early years, La Nacional was a very important help center for Spaniards moving to the United States. It offered them food and a place to stay. It also helped with their health needs and even arranged services after someone passed away. It was like a second home for them in New York City.
The Spanish Benevolent Society is a charity organization in America. It is a non-profit group, which means it uses all its money to help people, not to make a profit. The Society and its building on 14th Street are owned by their members. They get support from members and other companies that partner with them.
See also
In Spanish: La Nacional para niños
- List of American gentlemen's clubs
