The Spanish Cultural Center is located at 2801 16th St NW in Washington, DC, situated in the historic 16th Street NW district. This cultural landmark serves as the headquarters for the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain. The building was designed by renowned American architect George Oakley Totten in 1922. The center hosts art exhibits, concerts, festivals and more. I had the fortunate opportunity to visit the Ana Amado exhibit.
Ana Amado is a Spanish architect, photographer, and visual artist known for her powerful photographic projects that explore social themes, particularly women’s visibility and leadership. Her notable work “Lideresas” challenges gender inequality by recreating iconic photographs of male leaders with older women as the new protagonists, highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of women in society. Through her art, Amado uses photography as a medium to generate social dialogue and challenge existing power structures, demonstrating how visual storytelling can provoke meaningful conversations about gender representation.
The gallery alone is worth the visit. Enjoy the architecture. Originally, the building was part of a larger project conceived to develop the surrounding area as the center of social and diplomatic life in Washington, DC. It was erected by Mary Henderson, wife of Missouri Senator John B. Henderson, as a memorial to her son. The Henderson’s intended for it to become the official residence of the Vice President of the United States and offered it as a gift to the U.S. Government. However, Congress declined due to concerns about the expense of its upkeep. On April 2, 1927, the Government of Spain purchased the Beaux-Arts mansion to serve as the residence of the Spanish Ambassador.
The center is easily accessible, located 0.40 miles from the Metro and served by Green and Yellow lines at the Columbia Heights station
Address:
Spanish Cultural Center,
2801 16th St NW,
Washington, DC 20009