Galvéz and the Gulf, Fort Condé reenactment celebrated in Mobile

Special events took place at the History Museum of Mobile and Fort Condé March 13-14 as part of the America&Spain250 initiative, led by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (QSSI), and in collaboration with America 250 Alabama.

The America&Spain250 initiative aims to bring greater visibility to Spain’s role in the history of the United States through public events and educational programming. These events will focus on the history of the Gulf Coast during the American Revolution, including the Capture of Mobile and the leadership of Bernardo de Gálvez. These events mark the first America&Spain250 programs ever presented in Alabama.

March 13, in the Auditorium at the History Museum of Mobile, Begoña Santos, President and CEO of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute, welcomed over 100 guests to a evening that included a reenactment of Bernardo de Gálvez, lectures by Mike Bunn, author of The Fourteenth Colony, and Professor Thomas Chávez, research associate with the Latin American & Iberian Institute. This event was followed by a reception at the Richard-DAR House.

On Saturday, March 14th, the public witnessed the actual battle at Fort Charlotte (also called Fort Condé) told from the point of view of the British and Spanish officers and soldiers in and around the fort. The reenactment by living history interpreters, groups from the Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez, Waldeck 3rd Regiment, Ewalds Jaeger Co., Gulf Coast Artillery, and other reenactors from the Southeast took part in the 45-minute battle.

The Honorable Jesus Sanz Escorihuela, Consul General of Spain, attended the Friday evening DAR reception and Saturday activities at the fort.

Pictured, left to right: Bernardo de Gálvez reenactor; Val Crofts, Commissioner, America250; Begoña Santos, President and CEO of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute; Natalie Steed, Executive Director, America 250 Alabama; The Honorable Jesus Sanz Escorihuela, Consul General of Spain