Bernardo de Gálvez Memorial

Bernardo de Galvez Memorial

Quick Facts

Amenities

3 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Public Transit, Wheelchair Accessible

Bernardo de Gálvez (1746-1786) was the governor of the Spanish province of Louisiana during the American Revolution and supporting the American colonies' fight for independence. Gálvez provided supplies to the American colonists and forced the British out of west Florida. King Juan Carlos of Spain made a gift of this equestrian statue to the United States in 1976 in honor of the United States' bicentennial.

Memorial authorized 1976 (90 Stat. 519), dedicated 2007

To see more Latino leader memorials and statues in DC, visit the Avenue of Latino Leaders page.

Inscriptions

Pedestal, north
BERNARDO DE GALVEZ
(COUNT DE GALVEZ)
1746-1786
Pedestal, east
BERNARDO DE GALVEZ THE GREAT
SPANISH SOLDIER CARRIED OUT
A COURAGEOUS CAMPAIGN IN
LANDS BORDERING THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI. THIS MASTERPIECE
OF MILITARY STRATEGY LIGHTENED
THE PRESSURE OF THE ENGLISH
IN THE WAR AGAINST THE AMERICAN
SETTLERS WHO WERE FIGHTING FOR
THEIR INDEPENDENCE.
MAY THE STATUE OF BERNARDO
DE GALVEZ SERVE AS A REMINDER
THAT SPAIN OFFERED THE BLOOD
OF HER SOLDIERS FOR THE CAUSE
OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.
EXCERPTS OF A SPEECH GIVEN ON THIS LOCATION ON JUNE 3, 1976 BY HIS MAJESTY
DON JUAN CARLOS I
KING OF SPAIN
SCULPTOR
JUAN DE AVALOS
MADRID, SPAIN