Opening of the Gran Hotel Colón on June 26, 1883. View of the main dining hall and the facade of the hotel, from the side of the entrance to the main dining hall. At its height, it was considered the most luxurious hotel in Spain, and it became the nerve center for important events throughout the city’s history, including the commemoration of the 4th Centenary of the Discovery of the Americas, the founding of the Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, and as a venue for the Festival of Ibero-American Cinema. On January 9, 1896, the hotel was sold to the Rio Tinto Company Limited, which turned it into an office block with residences for staff. Since then, it has been known as “Casa Colón.” In 1986, with the disappearance of the north pavilion (among others), it was transferred to the municipality and converted into a center for cultural activities in 1992. Spanish and American illustration.