Discovering the American legacy in Barcelona with Josep Grau
'Made in USA' is an author's itinerary that reviews North American legacy in Ciutat Vella.
MUHBA presents an author's itinerary led by Josep Grau, which offers a unique opportunity to explore American influence in the city during the 20th century. This tour, which begins in front of a kiosk in Plaça Urquinaona and ends in Raval, focuses on two fundamental aspects of the North American presence in Ciutat Vella.
On the one hand, Made in USA analyses the impact of the architecture of the Chicago School, a clear influence on various emblematic buildings in the city. This is the historical name of an architectural style that developed in the city of Chicago at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, which pioneered the introduction of new materials and techniques for the construction of large commercial buildings and the first skyscrapers. This school came into being in a context of great prosperity, after the Great Fire of 1871, which destroyed most of the city. The need to rebuild gave rise to an enormous demand for new buildings and gave impetus to architectural innovation, which later influenced other cities, including Barcelona.
On the other hand, the itinerary also focuses on the presence of the Sixth American Fleet in Barcelona, a phenomenon that profoundly marked local culture and society in the 1950s and 1980s. From 1951 onwards, North American sailors in their white uniforms began to fill the Rambla and the Chinese neighbourhood (the Raval), bringing an air of money and eccentricity. These visits completely transformed the lower part of the city, giving rise to a golden age for the neighbourhood, which saw the birth of a tourist industry that still retains many of its practices and customs from those years.
Through this itinerary, participants will be able to learn first-hand how these two influences transformed Barcelona's face & vibe, from the architecture to the social changes linked to the military presence. It is an invitation to travel back in time to better understand the traces left by American influence in one of the most dynamic cities in Europe. Would you like to join us? You will find more information and tickets on the MUHBA website.