The Groundbreaking ceremonies for House of Spain, Casa de España in San Diego took part of the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park on March 4, 2006.
House of Spain History
The House of Spain in San Diego
learn about our rich history
In January 1977, Angel Vazquez Boedo, of Los Angeles, with the help of Don Ramon J. Sender (Spanish author of many novels), Juan Bertran and Jesus Benayas, obtained a list from the consulate in Los Angeles, of the names and addresses of Spaniards who lived in San Diego. They were invited to a meeting held at the Cafe del Rey Moro (today called El Prado) in Balboa Park, to investigate the possibilities of starting a club for Spaniards.
Rogelio Huidobro held three more meetings, where they discussed-this subject. On the 26th of November 1977, the first general meeting was held at the Balboa Club, 2225 6th Avenue, to elect a “provisional board of directors.” The following were elected Ram* Sender, Honorary President; Juan Bertran, President; Luis Planers, Vice-President; Eloy Muñoz, Secretary; Francisca Pepper, Treasurer; and five counselors”, as Spaniards by birth. On the fourth of January 1978, an Extraordinary General Meeting was held to vote for the statutes of the newly formed House of Spain. The rest is history.
‘We have celebrated life, shared experiences, made friendships, helped each other, and promoted and spread Spanish culture. We have opened our arms to our Latin brothers and persons from other countries interested in Spain and her culture. We have met monthly at parties, at each other’s homes, in hotels, and at the beach; organized walks in the country, held dinners and formal dances on club anniversaries and-New years eve.
We have organized and participated in talks and conferences, literary gatherings, herd classes, viewed movies, viewed videos, attended concerts (zarzuelas–Spanish operettas-; piano and singing), gone Christmas caroling, been on archeological digs, visited museums and played-games (such as dominos, cards and even football )We have participated in civic as well as cultural and-social-festivities with our paellas and folkloric dances. We have paraded with our flag, wearing costumes from our various regions, in Columbus Day Parades, the 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of America, The Rose Parade, and paraded in Tecate, Baja California
We have received and welcomed visitors of varying ranks, including the Crown Princesses of Spain, the training ship Sebastian Elcano and-its crew, diplomats, singing groups from various Spanish universities, athletes, movie stars and artists. We have enjoyed our good food holding potluck dinners and different types of parties featuring gazpacho, cocido, callos, tapas, bocadillos, potato omelet’s, sardines, flan, churros, etc…. and Pots of paella! Everything has been washed down with sangria and good Spanish wine with a good guitarist playing in the background… you can easily imagine these pies!
The party, and life continues and will continue. We will keep celebrating!
- To build and operate a center that will become the focal point for cultural, educational, social and charitable activities in the city of San Diego related to Spain and Spanish culture.
-
The center will also serve as a meeting place where locals and visitors could find information and assistance in a wide variety of cultural, educational and humanitarian topics.
-
The center will endeavor to spread the knowledge of and interest in the culture of Spain by means of artistic and folkloric presentations (both at the center and throughout the San Diego community), there will also be educational meetings and seminars on a regular basis, all of them open to the public in general.
The House of Spain, Casa de España in San Diego is a non-political, non-sectarian, non-profit organization, which endeavors to foster and cultivate traditions from Spain, and to contribute, maintain and enhance the spirit of understanding, tolerance and goodwill among all the national groups residing in the city of San Diego by presenting the history and culture of Spain. As such, the House of Spain, Casa de España in San Diego adheres, without reservations, to the principles of the House of Pacific Relations.
Official documents governing the House of Spain, Casa de España in San Diego are available to the public on this website.