CHANCERIESTHE DIPLOMATIC ATLAS

Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain

Diplomatic history and full roster

Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain

2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

Dark glass rises behind the preserved façades of nineteenth century rowhouses. The chancery and consular section occupy the same Pennsylvania Avenue address.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed1990; earlier façadesverified 1990 delivery of the modern office building; retained rowhouse façades date to the 1880s.
  1. citeseerx.ist.psu.edu
  2. commons.wikimedia.org
Diplomatic use1991 (reported)estimated Reported move to Pennsylvania Avenue. Some secondary accounts give 1994; this is not treated as a second construction date.
  1. modernminute.net
NeighborhoodWest Endverified The DC assessment neighborhood is Foggy Bottom.
  1. commons.wikimedia.org
ArchitectGeorge Kalimarisverified Modern building attribution, Architecture of Compromise, printed p. 122. Architects of the retained façades are not established.
  1. citeseerx.ist.psu.edu
Rooms135estimated; Low-confidence estimate for the chancery office/reception building. 69,461 sq ft × 0.58 room-floor fraction ÷ 300 sq ft average counted room = about 135 rooms; sensitivity range 90–210. This is not a surveyed inventory.
  1. services.arcgis.com
Floor area69,461 sq ftverified DC CAMA gross building area, SSL 0038 0040; not inferred from the model.
  1. services.arcgis.com
Site area11,559 sq ftverified Assessment land area for SSL 0038 0040, approximately 1,074 m².
  1. services.arcgis.com
  2. services.arcgis.com
2026 Value$43,834,730verified DC tax year 2026 assessment, SSL 0038 0040. Tax assessment, not a sale price.
  1. services.arcgis.com

Complete property record

Spanish Ambassador’s Residence

2350 Foxhall Road NW, Washington, DC 20007

Rafael Moneo arranged brick volumes down a wooded slope, placing ceremonial rooms near the entrance and private accommodation below. Curved vaults and tall clerestories give the principal reception hall its distinctive form.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed1999–2002verified Architect’s project chronology: design 1995–1999, construction from 1999, project dated 1995–2002. Inauguration occurred in 2004.
  1. rafaelmoneo.com
Diplomatic use2004verified Opening of the purpose-built residence, separate from construction completion.
  1. modernminute.net
  2. rafaelmoneo.com
NeighborhoodBerkleyverified
  1. services.arcgis.com
ArchitectRafael Moneo; Moneo Brockverified Rafael Moneo with Belén Moneo and Jeff Brock; landscape by Gail Wittwer.
  1. rafaelmoneo.com
Rooms45estimated; Low-confidence estimate for the reported main residence scope, with large ceremonial and reception rooms alongside domestic and service rooms. 42,076 sq ft × 0.53 room-floor fraction ÷ 500 sq ft average counted room = about 45 rooms; sensitivity range 25–65. This is not a surveyed inventory.
  1. rafaelmoneo.com
  2. services.arcgis.com
Floor area≈42,076 sq ftpartial; 3,909 m² × 10.7639104 sq ft/m². Published project area; gross/internal measurement convention not specified. Architect publishes 3,909 m² of project area. DC CAMA lists 14,187 sq ft, apparently a different scope; neither figure is silently reconciled.
  1. rafaelmoneo.com
  2. services.arcgis.com
Site area≈110,243 sq ftestimated; DC projected parcel area 10,241.9486369 m² × 10.7639104. Geometry-based whole-parcel measure, not Web Mercator area. Mapped whole parcel is about 2.53 acres. Tax extract LANDAREA is 25,469 sq ft and does not match that polygon.
  1. services.arcgis.com
  2. services.arcgis.com
  3. services.arcgis.com
2026 Value$6,390,070verified DC tax year 2026 assessment, SSL 1382 0839. Recorded assessment may not cover the same area as the architect’s published project figure.
  1. services.arcgis.com

Complete property record

Cultural Office — Former Embassy and Residence

2801 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Mary Foote Henderson commissioned the limestone house as a proposed vice presidential residence. Spain later converted it into an embassy and ambassador’s residence. It now hosts the Cultural Office and SPAIN arts & culture.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed1921–1923partial Photographed in 1922; completed by the 1923 offer to the U.S. government. Sources differ on the single completion year.
  1. commons.wikimedia.org
  2. modernminute.net
Diplomatic use1927verified Contemporary Evening Star report of 8 October 1927 records the ambassador’s move after alterations; some later summaries give 1926.
  1. modernminute.net
NeighborhoodMeridian Hillverified DC assessment neighborhood: Columbia Heights.
  1. commons.wikimedia.org
ArchitectG. O. Totten Jr.; J. H. de Sibourverified Totten designed the original house; de Sibour is credited with the Spanish expansion.
  1. commons.wikimedia.org
  2. modernminute.net
Rooms35estimated; Low-confidence estimate for the cultural center, allowing for larger exhibition and performance spaces as well as offices and support rooms. 34,821 sq ft × 0.45 room-floor fraction ÷ 420 sq ft average counted room = about 35 rooms; sensitivity range 20–65. This is not a surveyed inventory.
  1. services.arcgis.com
Floor area34,821 sq ftverified DC CAMA gross building area for SSL 2577 0821; parcel has more than one structure.
  1. services.arcgis.com
Site area29,995 sq ftverified SSL 2577 0821 includes the house, terraces, and rear structures.
  1. services.arcgis.com
  2. services.arcgis.com
2026 Value$11,134,080verified DC tax year 2026 assessment for SSL 2577 0821; not an acquisition cost.
  1. services.arcgis.com

Complete property record

Historic Moments

Spain sends its first official envoy

1785

Diego de Gardoqui arrives in New York as Spain’s first officially received envoy. His wartime supply network gives way to negotiations over trade and the Mississippi frontier.

Opening the Mississippi

1795-10-27

Thomas Pinckney and Manuel de Godoy settle the southern boundary and open the Mississippi to American navigation. Spain’s concessions also weaken its frontier commitments to Native communities.

A boundary reaches the Pacific

1819-02-22

Luis de Onís and John Quincy Adams agree on Florida’s transfer and a continental boundary. Ratification follows in 1821, after negotiations shaped by American expansion and military pressure.

Peace and the transfer of colonies

1898-12-10

Spanish and American commissioners sign peace in Paris. Spain relinquishes Cuba and cedes Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines; the treaty leaves the political status of the ceded islands to the U.S. Congress.

Bases and aid under Franco

1953-09-26

The Madrid agreements establish defense cooperation and American assistance to Spain. Separate technical arrangements govern land, construction, use of facilities, and personnel.

A king pledges democratic government

1976-06-02

Juan Carlos I addresses a joint meeting of Congress during Spain’s political transition. His Washington visit combines a public commitment to democracy with discussion of a new cooperation treaty.

Chiefs of Mission

DiplomatOfficeRecorded serviceStatus
Juan de MirallesRepresentative1778–1780Former
Francisco RendónRepresentative1780–1785Former
Diego de GardoquiChargé d’affaires1785–1789Former
José Ignacio de ViarChargé d’affaires1789–1791Former
José Ignacio de ViarChargé d’affaires1791–1794Former
José de Jáudenes y NebotChargé d’affaires1791–1794Former
José de Jáudenes y NebotChargé d’affaires1794–1796Former
José Ignacio de ViarChargé d’affaires1796–1796Former
Carlos Martínez de Irujo y TacónMinister1796–1807Former
Valentín de ForondaChargé d’affaires1807–1809Former
Luis de OnísMinister1815–1819Former
Mateo de la SernaChargé d’affaires1819–1820Former
Francisco Dionisio VivesMinister1820–1821Former
Hilario Rivas y SalmónChargé d’affaires1821–1821Former
Joaquín de Anduaga y CuencaMinister1821–1823Former
Juan Manuel de BarrosChargé d’affairesRecorded 1824Former
Hilario Rivas y SalmónChargé d’affaires1825–1827Former
Francisco TacónMinister1827–1835Former
Miguel Tacón y García de LisónChargé d’affaires1835–1835Former
Ángel Calderón de la BarcaMinister1835–1837Former
Miguel Tacón y García de LisónChargé d’affaires1837–1838Former
Ángel Calderón de la BarcaMinister1838–1839Former
Pedro Alcántara ArgaizMinister1839–1844Former
Fidencio BourmanChargé d’affairesRecorded 1844-01-02Former
Ángel Calderón de la BarcaMinister1844–1853Former
José María MagallónChargé d’affairesRecorded 1854-05-30Former
Leopoldo Augusto de CuetoMinister1854–1855Former
Alfonso EscalanteMinister1855–1856Former
José María MagallónChargé d’affaires1856–1857Former
Gabriel García TassaraMinister1857–1867Former
Facundo GoñiMinister1867–1869Former
Mauricio López RobertsMinister1869–1872Former
José Polo de Bernabé y MordellaMinister1872–1874Former
Luis de PotestadChargé d’affairesRecorded 1874-07-01Former
Antonio Mantilla de los RíosMinister1874–1878Former
José Brunetti y Gayoso, Duke of ArcosChargé d’affairesRecorded 1878-08-14Former
Felipe Méndez de Vigo y OsorioMinister1879–1881Former
José Brunetti y Gayoso, Duke of ArcosChargé d’affairesRecorded 1881-03-02Former
Francisco Barca del CorralMinister1881–1883Former
Enrique Dupuy de LômeChargé d’affairesRecorded 1883-07-29Former
Juan Valera y Alcalá-GalianoMinister1884–1886Former
Emilio de MuruagaMinister1886–1890Former
Miguel Suárez GuanesMinister1890–1892Former
José Felipe SagrarioChargé d’affairesRecorded 1891-11-28Former
Enrique Dupuy de LômeMinister1892–1893Former
Emilio de MuruagaMinister1893–1895Former
José Felipe SagrarioChargé d’affairesRecorded 1895-04-16Former
Enrique Dupuy de LômeMinister1895–1898Former
Juan du BoscChargé d’affairesRecorded 1898-02-11Former
Luis Polo de Bernabé y PilónMinister1898–1898Former
José Brunetti y Gayoso, Duke of ArcosMinister1899–1901Former
Juan Riaño y GayangosChargé d’affairesRecorded 1901-11-22Former
Emilio de Ojeda y PerpiñánMinister1902–1905Former
Manuel Walls y MerinoChargé d’affairesRecorded 1905-04-11Former
Luis PastorChargé d’affairesRecorded 1905-04-30Former
Ramón Piña y MilletMinister1907–1909Former
Luis PastorChargé d’affairesRecorded 1909-06-24Former
Rodrigo de Saavedra y Vinent, Marquis of VillalobarMinister1909–1910Former
Francisco de Zea BermúdezChargé d’affairesRecorded 1910-02-10Former
Juan Riaño y GayangosMinister1910–1913Former
Juan Riaño y GayangosAmbassador1913–1926Former
Mariano Amoedo y GalarmendiChargé d’affairesRecorded 1926-08-23Former
Alejandro Padilla y BellAmbassador1926–1931Former
Manuel Allendesalazar y Azpiroz, Count of MontefuerteChargé d’affairesRecorded 1931-04-15Former
Salvador de MadariagaAmbassador1931–1932Former
Juan Francisco de CárdenasAmbassador1932–1934Former
Luis Calderón y MartínAmbassador1934–1936Former
Enrique Carlos de la CasaChargé d’affairesRecorded 1936-09-11Former
Fernando de los RíosAmbassador1936–1939Former
Enrique Carlos de la CasaChargé d’affairesRecorded 1937-06-14, 1937-06-16Former
Enrique Carlos de la CasaChargé d’affairesRecorded 1938-05-20Former
Juan Francisco de CárdenasChargé d’affaires1939–1939Former
Juan Francisco de CárdenasAmbassador1939–1946Former
Germán Baráibar y UsandizagaChargé d’affaires1946–1949Former
Eduardo Propper de CallejónChargé d’affaires1949–1951Former
José Félix de LequericaAmbassador1951–1954Former
José María de AreilzaAmbassador1954–1960Former
Mariano Yturralde y OrbegosoAmbassador1960–1962Former
Antonio Garrigues Díaz-CañabateAmbassador1962–1964Former
Alfonso Merry del Val y AlzolaAmbassador1964–1970Former
Jaime Argüelles ArmadaAmbassador1970–1972Former
Ángel Sagaz ZubelzuAmbassador1972–1974Former
Joaquín Cervino SantíasChargé d’affairesRecorded 1974-05-06Former
Jaime Alba DelibesAmbassador1974–1976Former
Juan José Rovira y Sánchez-HerreroAmbassador1976–1978Former
José Lladó Fernández-UrrutiaAmbassador1978–1982Former
Nuño Aguirre de CárcerAmbassador1982–1983Former
Gabriel Mañueco de LeceaAmbassador1983–1987Former
Julián Santamaría OssorioAmbassador1987–1990Former
Jaime de Ojeda y EiseleyAmbassador1990–1996Former
Antonio de Oyarzábal MarchesiAmbassador1996–2000Former
Javier RupérezAmbassador2000–2004Former
Carlos WestendorpAmbassador2004–2008Former
Jorge Dezcallar de MazarredoAmbassador2008–2012Former
Ramón Gil-Casares SatrústeguiAmbassador2012–2017Former
Pedro Morenés EulateAmbassador2017–2018Former
Santiago Cabanas AnsorenaAmbassador2018–2024Former
Ángeles Moreno BauAmbassador2024–presentCurrent