The Queen Sofía Spanish Institute participated in the Bexar America250 Kickoff in San Antonio, Texas, presenting the America&Spain250 initiative as part of the region’s official launch of the national commemoration leading up to the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Representing the QSSI, Isabel Rivero, Senior Media and Program Development Manager, presented the America&Spain250 initiative: the objetives and the current programs. The presentation also underscored QSSI’s ongoing commitment to building partnerships with America250 commissions, museums, educators, and cultural institutions nationwide.
Held at Main Plaza in downtown San Antonio, the kickoff event brought together local institutions, historians, civic leaders, and community organizations to spotlight Béxar County’s contributions to the American Revolution. The program emphasized the historical role of Spanish Texas in supporting revolutionary forces through material aid, including livestock, supplies, and strategic support, an often-overlooked dimension of the Revolutionary era.
The event began with a blessing from Isaac Alvarez Cardenas, Director of Programs, American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions, and featured remarks by Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, joined by County Commissioners, marking the significance of the occasion. The celebration also included a strong living-history component, with horses provided by the San Antonio Charro Association and the Sheriff’s Department.
Another highlight of the program was the participation of Los Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez, including a member portraying Bernardo de Gálvez, whose leadership remains central to the story of Spain’s role in the American Revolution. The kickoff also welcomed an impressive range of heritage and civic organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, the Canary Islands Descendants Association, American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions, and the 1718 Presidio Soldiers group, among others.
The Bexar Heritage Center, one of the organizers of the event, provides more information about Spain’s involvement in the American Revolution in their exhibit “Hidden Heroes of the American Revolution: Spanish Leadership and Texan Contributions.” Located within the historic Bexar County Courthouse, this new 6,500 sq. ft. exhibit space aims to educate visitors on the history and accomplishments of the County, through an entertaining array of interactive dioramas. Additional educational resources have been developed about Texas’s role in the American Revolution: https://bexaramerica250-bexar.hub.arcgis.com/
