The Hispanic presence in the United States is both ancient and enduring. It can be traced back to 1513, when Juan Ponce de León set foot in La Florida. Over the next two centuries, Spanish explorers, settlers, and missionaries established a vast imprint that stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In 1526, Spaniards attempted the first colony in the Carolinas; by the 1540s, they had sailed up the California coast and crossed, among other areas, what are now Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Alabama. In 1565, St. Augustine, Florida, became the first permanent European settlement in the continental United States. Meanwhile in 1570, Spanish Jesuits established a mission in Virginia. More than a century later, in 1769, San Diego was founded, marking the start of the chain of twenty-one California missions.
Though colonial rivalries and wars shifted political borders, the Hispanic legacy endured. By the time of the American Revolution, Spain still held vast territories in the South and West. Even after the Spanish-American War ended Spain’s formal role in the hemisphere, Hispanic cultures, languages, and traditions continued to shape the United States.
This long arc of history explains why there are numerous and widespread Hispanic heritage sites. To honor Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlight a selection of emblematic places preserved by the National Park Service—forts, missions, and monuments that embody centuries of Hispanic presence in the United States and can still be visited today.
Castillo de San Marcos, Florida
Located in St. Augustine, Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States. Built by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695 to protect maritime trade routes, it has changed hands multiple times, from Spain to Great Britain, the Confederate States, and ultimately to the United States. Today, visitors can walk its stone ramparts and explore its history daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fort Matanzas, Florida
About 15 miles south of St. Augustine lies Fort Matanzas, built in 1742 to guard the southern approach to the city. Its name, meaning “slaughters,” recalls the execution of Frenchmen at the site by the Spanish in the 16th century. The fort later served as a defense against English attacks. Visitors can access outdoor areas daily, though the ferry to the fort does not operate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
San Antonio Missions, Texas
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park preserves four Spanish colonial missions: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. Founded by Franciscan priests in the early 18th century, these communities reshaped local life, introducing Christianity, farming practices, and cultural traditions that still influence San Antonio today. The missions, located just a few miles apart, form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico
Spanish settlement in Puerto Rico began in 1508, soon followed by the construction of a vast fortification system in San Juan. Today, the San Juan National Historic Site comprises Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, Fortín San Juan de la Cruz (also known as El Cañuelo), and portions of the city walls.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, begun in 1539 and completed in 1790, is one of the most iconic Spanish fortresses in the Americas. Its formidable walls resisted cannon fire, and it remained in military use through the two World Wars.
Castillo San Cristóbal, the largest fortress built by Spain in the New World, protected the city from land-based attacks.
Fortín San Juan de la Cruz (El Cañuelo), built between 1608 and 1610, guarded the mouth of the Bayamón River and supported El Morro’s cannons.
The City Walls, completed by 1783, enclosed San Juan with massive stone defenses. Although parts were dismantled in the 19th century, large portions still stand today, carefully preserved with traditional techniques. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the San Juan fortifications showcase centuries of Spanish military engineering and resilience.
Salinas Pueblo Missions, New Mexico
Located in the middle of New Mexico, these missions comprise three distinct sites: Abó, Quarai and Gran Quivira.
Abó, where the Mission of San Gregorio was founded in 1622, preserves the remains of the second church built to serve the growing community.
Quarai, at the base of the Manzano Mountains, preserves the striking ruins of Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Quarai, a mission whose church construction began in 1627.
Gran Quivira, the largest of the three, once housed up to 3,000 Tompiro and Jumano people and today reveals a sweeping view of the cultural encounter between Pueblo peoples and Spanish colonists.
These sites bear witness to both the spiritual ambitions and the cultural conflicts of Spain’s colonial project.
Cabrillo National Monument, California
At the tip of the Point Loma Peninsula in San Diego stands Cabrillo National Monument, commemorating Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the first European to land on the West Coast in 1542. Cabrillo’s expedition recorded California’s coastline and its Indigenous peoples, paving the way for future exploration. The monument, with its commanding view of San Diego Bay and the Pacific, honors this early moment of contact.
From Florida’s stone bastions to Texas’s missions, from Puerto Rico’s massive fortifications to New Mexico’s mission ruins and California’s monument to exploration, these sites embody the enduring legacy of Hispanic history in the United States. They are not just relics of the past but living reminders of a heritage that continues to shape the nation. Today, with over 60 million people of Hispanic descent, the Hispanic presence is vibrant and growing—enriching American society culturally, socially, economically, and politically, and pointing toward a stronger, more inclusive future.
References
The Glider Lehrman Institute of American History: “The Hispanic Legacy in American History” By Rubén G. Rumbaut
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/essays/hispanics-united-states-origins-and-destinies
Castillo de San Marcos: National Monument, Florida
https://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm
Fort Matanzas, National Monument, Florida
https://www.nps.gov/foma/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
San Antonio Missions, Texas
https://www.nps.gov/saan/learn/historyculture/index.htm
San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico
https://www.nps.gov/saju/learn/index.htm
Salinas Pueblo Missions, New Mexico
https://www.nps.gov/sapu/index.htm
Cabrillo National Monument, California
https://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm
