Hispanic Heritage Sites (U.S. National Park Service)

The National Park System is well endowed to commemorate Hispanic contributions to American Society. Some twenty national parklands represent America's Hispanic heritage. Some sites remotely display Hispanic contributions to American culture. [NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ALMANAC, Edited and Compiled by Ben Moffett and Vickie Carson, National Park Service, Rocky Mountain Region; Denver, Colorado; 1991, updated 2006]

National Park Units

Christiansted NHS, on St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, is the only identifiable site under United States Jurisdiction to have been visited on Columbus's voyages. Other directly represents Hispanic contribution to American culture.

Cabrillo NM (San Diego, California) Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, Portuguese explorer who claimed the West Coast of the United States for Spain in 1542, is memorialized here.

Castillo de San Marcos NM (St. Augustine, Florida) Construction on the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States was started in 1672 by the Spanish to protect St. Augustine. St. Augustine was the first permanent settlement (1565) in the continental United States.

Chamizal NMem. (El Paso, Texas) The peaceful settlement of the 99 year boundary dispute between the United States and Mexico is memorialized here. International artists present cultural exchange programs in drama, dance, and music.

Coronado NMem. (Hereford, Arizona) Our Hispanic heritage and the first European exploration of the Southwest, by Francisco Vázquez de Coronadoin 1540 42, are commemorated here, where his expedition entered what is now the United States.

De Soto NMem. (Bradenton, Florida) The landing of Spanish explorer Hernando de Sotoin 1539 and the first extensive exploration of the southern United States by Europeans are commemorated.

Dry Tortugas National Park

El Moro NM (Ramah, New Mexico) "Inscription Rock" is a soft sandstone monolith on which are carved hundreds of inscriptions. Included are inscriptions of the Spanish explorers and settlers of the American Southwest.

Fort Matanzas NM (St. Augustine, Florida) This Spanish fort was built, 1740 42, to warn St. Augustine of British or other enemy approach from the south.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Bateria de San Antonio (Gulf Breeze, Florida) Offshore islands have sparkling sand beaches, historic forts, and nature trails.

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Padre Island National Seashore

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site

Pecos National Historical Park

Presidio

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument (Mountainair, New Mexico) This park preserves and interprets the best remaining examples of 17th century Spanish Franciscan mission churches and coventos remaining in the United States.

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve

San Antonio Missions NHP (San Antonio, Texas) Four Spanish frontier missions, part of a colonization system that stretched across the Spanish Southwest in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries are commemorated here.

San Juan NHS (San Juan, Puerto Rico) These masonry fortifications, oldest in the territorial limits of the United States, were begun by the Spaniards in the 16th century to protect a strategic harbor guarding the sea lanes to the new world.

Tumacácori National Historical Park (Tumacacori, Arizona) This historic Spanish Catholic mission building stands near the site first visited by Jesuit Father Kino in 1691.

References

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*National Park Service