Queen Sofía has led the opening of the III Symposium "America&Spain250": "Spain and the American Revolution along the Mississippi River" at the Cathedral of San Luis in New Orleans (United States). During her visit, she also toured the exhibition "Gálvez and Louisiana in the American Revolution" and was honored for her philanthropic work, also receiving the keys to the city, according to the Royal House reported this Saturday.
Doña Sofía has participated in the activities organized around this symposium, promoted by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute and the Historic New Orleans Collection, with the collaboration of the Queen Sofía Foundation and the Ramón Areces Foundation. The meeting includes conferences, round tables, and various events focused on Spain's contributions to the American Revolution.
After the inauguration of the III Symposium "America&Spain250": "Spain and the American Revolution along the Mississippi River", the Queen visited the exhibition "Gálvez and Louisiana in the American Revolution" at the Cabildo Museum, the former seat of the Government of Spain in Louisiana.
In this space, she received from the State a "Proclamation" – a document recognizing her philanthropic work and welcoming her on behalf of the citizens of Louisiana – and viewed the uniforms of Bernardo de Gálvez, as well as a flag donated to the museum by the Embassy of Spain in the United States.
Additionally, she held a meeting with the Henderson family (Jane, Cynthia, and Michael Henderson), descendants of the enslaved woman Agnes Deváux, who gained her freedom after Bernardo de Gálvez, as governor of Louisiana, signed the manumission document in the late 18th century.
The day began with the inauguration of the restored plaque on San Pedro Street, which commemorates the time when New Orleans was the capital of the Spanish province of Louisiana and whose restoration is being carried out by a Spanish company.
Various authorities attended the event, including the mayor of New Orleans, Helena Moreno, who presented the keys to the city to Queen Sofía, as noted by the Royal House.
This Saturday, Doña Sofía will attend the presentations of the III Symposium "America&Spain250" at the Williams Research Center, while on Sunday she plans to make a floral offering at the statue of Bernardo de Gálvez and meet with descendants of Spaniards ("isleños") settled in Louisiana.