Inauguration of the new Historical Archive of the Spanish Navy

On September 5, the new headquarters of the Spanish Navy's Historical Archive called ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ was inaugurated in a ceremony presided over by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, the Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, the Undersecretary of Defense, Adoración Mateos and other military authorities, who were received and welcomed by the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy (AJEMA), Admiral Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez and the Director of the Institute of Naval History and Culture, Vice Admiral Enrique Torres Piñeyro.

Several speeches were delivered during the ceremony including that of the AJEMA, who stressed that this inauguration ‘culminates a wish long awaited by the Navy’, and the Director of the new Archive, Captain Lorenzo Gamboa Pérez-Pardo, who reviewed the most outstanding features of the building that will allow, among other things, to manage the almost 2,500 yearly requests of researches and experts. He highlighted the value of the historical archives of the Spanish Navy, explaining that ‘a very important part of the history of Spain has been written by the sailors on the deck of their ships’. The closing speech was by the Minister of Defense, who thanked ‘all those who have made this project possible, because it underlines the importance of our Navy and the glorious pages of our history. It means - Margarita Robles added - bringing this history closer to the citizens, especially to the young people’.

A state-of-the-art Archive

The new headquarters of the Spanish Navy Historical Archive ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’, located in the district of Campamento (Madrid), stands as a reference in the management and conservation of historical documents. At the doorway of the modern complex, two symbols of naval history preside over the entrance: the mast of the corvette ‘Cazadora’ (F-35) and the anchor of the aircraft carrier ‘Príncipe de Asturias’, two emblems that represent the technological evolution of the Navy in different periods.

This Archive is a single institution with two headquarters: the historical one in the Palace of Viso del Marqués in Ciudad Real, named ‘Álvaro de Bazán’, and this new headquarters in Madrid. The complex consists of three accessible buildings, the first two built with the approximate dimensions of old and significant ships in the history of Spain: that of the ‘Victoria’ and the third building with those of the ‘Santísima Trinidad’.

Capacity and technology

The Archive currently houses 14 linear km of documents, with the capacity to reach 28 km in 2026 and up to 42 km in the future. This modern space has an advanced technological infrastructure that supports the progressive digitization of the archives and a powerful computer network to facilitate consultation and preservation of the documentary heritage.

In addition, the new facilities include a research room equipped with advanced technology, a paper restoration laboratory and a reprographic room, making it a state-of-the-art space for documentary preservation, and access to naval history.

A national historical treasure

The Historical Archive of the Navy is the third institution in terms of volume of documents in Spain, only surpassed by the Ministry of Culture and that the Army. Its collections contain authentic treasures ranging from written documents to maps, plans and nautical charts, fundamental for understanding not only Spanish naval history, but also national and international history.

Among its most outstanding documents are the Royal Order of the frigate ‘Nuestra Señora de la Mercedes’, essential in the resolution of the ‘Odyssey case’, the Service Sheet of Albear y Ponce de León and the original document of the Royal Decree that established the Spanish flag.

With the inauguration of the Historical Archive ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’, the Spanish Navy reaffirms its commitment with the preservation of the historical heritage and the dissemination of its naval culture, putting at the service of research one of the most important archives of our country.