Three hidden
Hispanic ​role models 

Are you keeping track? In Mobile Alabama, we learned about the Hispanic-led battle that helped the Union win the Civil war in 1864. And just down the road in Pensacola Florida, we learned about another Hispanic-led battle, in 1781, that was key to winning the American Revolution. It was Admiral David Farragut, the son of a Spanish immigrant, who won the Battle of Mobile Bay for the Union Navy. And it was Spanish General Bernardo de Gálvez who won the Battle of Pensacola, 83 years earlier.

We also learned that more than two centuries earlier, in 1559, another Spanish expedition, led by Tristan de Luna, settled in what is now Pensacola and could have changed the course of American history — had it not been for a hurricane! 

​And yet, ask yourself: Why are Farragut, Gálvez and De Luna unknown to most Americans? Do you see what I mean by "Hidden Hispanic Heritage"?  Do you see what I mean by "Hidden Hispanic Heritage"? Do you understand me when I say that our role models have been hidden from our youth?
                              — Miguel Pérez

General Bernardo de Gálvez

Admiral David Farragut

Tristan de Luna

Tres modelos
​hispanos ocultos

™Estás contando? En Mobile, Alabama, aprendimos sobre la batalla liderada por hispanos que ayudó a la Unión a ganar la Guerra Civil en 1864. Y muy cerca, en Pensacola, Florida, aprendimos sobre otra batalla liderada por hispanos, en 1781, que fue clave para ganar la Revolución Americana. Fue el almirante David Farragut, hijo de un inmigrante español, quien ganó la Batalla de la Bahía de Mobile para la Armada de la Unión. Y fue el general español Bernardo de Gálvez quien ganó la Batalla de Pensacola, 83 años antes.

También aprendimos que más de dos siglos antes, en 1559, otra expedición española, liderada por Tristán de Luna, se instaló en lo que hoy es Pensacola y podría haber cambiado el curso de la historia estadounidense, ´si no hubiera sido por un huracán!​

​Y, sin embargo, pregúntate: ™por qué Farragut, Gálvez y De Luna son desconocidos para la mayoría de los estadounidenses? ™Entiendes lo que quiero decir con "Herencia Hispana Oculta"? ™Me entiendes cuando digo que nuestros modelos a seguir han sido ocultos de nuestra juventud?
                             — Miguel Pérez

Pensacola, Florida:
​'A Spanish Town'

Pensacola, Florida:
‘Un pueblo español’​

Pensacola, Florida: ​'A Spanish Town'

En español: Pensacola, Florida: ‘Un pueblo español’​

By Miguel Pérez

Just before you enter the Pensacola Museum of History, where the city's Hispanic heritage is well documented, a historical marker reminds you that you are in "A Spanish Town."

But you don't need to read that marker to know that. When you are in this quaint and quiet town in Northwest Florida, you find yourself in a city that proudly promotes its Hispanic heritage. Everywhere you turn in the downtown area, you see Spanish history and culture all around you.

"Though several European nations controlled Pensacola in its 460-history, Spain reigned the longest," the marker says. "Spain made Pensacola the capital city of West Florida, turning the small, rural town into a thriving municipal center. Two hundred years ago, the largest collection of buildings is this area housed the Spanish government offices."

As noted previously in this series, before Florida became part of the United States in 1821, Pensacola belonged to three foreign powers: Spain, France and England. And it went through three Spanish periods: From 1559 to 1719, from 1722 to 1763 and again from 1781 to 1821.

​No wonder you see so much Spanish culture here!

"Even after the United States took control of Pensacola, many citizens still spoke Spanish in social settings and conducted business with older currency," a historical marker says. "The fabric of the city still displays much of its Spanish heritage through street names and popular festivals."

That "older currency" used as the coinage in Pensacola was the Spanish real, which is on display in the museum.

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Across the street from the museum is Plaza Ferdinand VII, marking the spot where General Andrew Jackson "received West Florida from Spain and raised the flag of the U.S." on July 17, 1821. The Plaza features a bust of General Jackson, with a plaque which notes that five flags "have been raised in turn, ten times over Pensacola," including the Spanish, French, British, American and Confederate flags.

General Andrew Jackson

"Here was the center of life of the town and of the province of West Florida during the greater part of the colonial era," says the plaque erected in 1935 by the Pensacola Historical Society.

At Seville Square, a small park centered by a gazebo, ..
And at the nearby Plaza Ferdinand VII, centered by a beautiful fountain,

​and Seville Square, you find two small parks stop and review a little history, one with a Spanish fountain and one with a gazebo.  

there are cannons, statues, historical parks 
recognizing the site where Spain


​— "unable to stem the tide of American expansionism," according to the Wentworth exhibit — formally transferred Florida to the United States for a measly $5 million in 1821. Heavily in debt and at the risk of losing Florida without compensation, Spain had no choice but to accept the deal.
​

Tallahassee's San Luis Mission: Fascinating time travel to colonial Spanish Florida​

A trip back in time, to colonial Spanish Florida

​La Misión de San Luis de Tallahassee: Fascinante viaje en el tiempo a la Florida colonial española

Tallahassee
​De Soto Winter encampment??

Miami's Bayfront Park
Celebrates the Americas

​El Bayfront Park de Miami celebra las Américas

Miami's Bayfront Park
Celebrates the Americas

Miami — Ermita, Varela, Bayfront Park, Miami High, Little Havana, Jose Marti Park, Florida Cultural Heritage Center

Key West — Marti Statue, San Carlos Institute, downtown, southernmost point, lighthouse, Key West Museum of Art and History, Key West cemetery.

Punta Gorda — Ponce De Leon Park, Ponce De Leon Monument

Tampa — Ybor City, Paulina Pedroso Monument

St. Augustine — Fountain of Youth, Government House Museum, Plaza de la Constitution, Father Pedro Camps Monument, Cathedral of St. Augustine, Varela Statue, Historic homes, Older Schoolhouse, Columbia Restaurant, Camino Real, Downtown, Ponce De Leon statue

Georgia — Fort Carolina National Memorial

Two Jamestowns

Baltimore — Marti Monument

Philadelphia — Don Quixote Plaza, Puerto Rican Migration Garita.

To make peace, Republicans now want us to stop saying Trump is a fascist, and that he would destroy democracy. It's laughable. To make peace, will that stop them from saying that the 2020 election was stolen? Do they the believe in a peaceful transfer of power

You mean Russia's favorite candidate? the one who said we doesn't care what happens to Ukraine?

​a De Soto chronicler describes
 
after crossing the Mississippi River on the Hernando De Soto Bridge from Memphis to Arkansas,
​
After crossing the Hernando De Soto Bridge over the Mississippi River, some 483 years after De Soto's bridge-less crossing,

​I wanted to continue looking for him, but my Great Hispanic American History Tour must keep moving west. Next week, this column will explore Galveston, Texas, the city named after Revolutionary War hero Bernardo de Galvez and the island where conquistador Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca was stranded.

​Yo lo quería seguir buscándolo, pero mi Gran Gira por la Historia Hispanoamericana debe seguir avanzando hacia el oeste. La semana que viene, esta columna explorará a Galveston, Texas, la ciudad que lleva el nombre de el héroe de la Guerra Revolucionaria Bernardo de Gálvez y la isla donde el conquistador Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca estuvo extraviado.

Traducido al español por Susana Hayward

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