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Photos by Theresa Doyle-Nelson
October 8, 2025
Day of the Galleon — Día del Galeón
By Theresa Doyle-Nelson
The Bandera Prophet
October 8 has been declared the “Day of the Galleon” by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). This day is to give yearly recognition to the profound influence of the exchange of cultures, knowledge, resources and goods between Asia, Mexico and Spain.
Why October 8?
It was the brilliance and bravery of Spanish priest Friar Andrés de Urdaneta that Oct. 8 was chosen as the Day of the Galleon; for it was on Octo. 8, 1565, that the Augustinian priest and crew arrived in Acapulco, after having successfully navigated the difficult eastward passage across the Pacific Ocean from Manilla.
While the westward journey from Acapulco to Manila was discovered with relative ease, the eastward passage “tornaviaje” (return route) had eluded the New Spain traders for decades. Due to years of studying prevailing winds and currents and keeping fastidious notes, Urdaneta was able to find the current that would guide the Manila Galleons back across the Pacific Ocean to Mexico—a water current now known as the Kuroshio Current. This newly-discovered route offered a far more practical way for galleons to travel the vast, often treacherous Pacific. Consequently, from that Oct. 8 day, until 1815, many galleons traveled back and forth across the Pacific Ocean helping sailors and merchants to trade, learn and share enlightening traditions with each other.
How the Manila Galleon Era Impacted the World
When galleons arrived in Manila, the traders found a vast array of intriguing Asian goods to bring back to New Spain: spices, silks, jade, carpets, beeswax, honey, ceramics, oranges, pearls, unique arts, crafts, exotic animals, and more—rare items to those in New Spain and Spain. In Asia, people were intrigued to acquire things such as silver, cocoa beans, wines, cochineal (for brilliant red paints), pottery, tobacco, sweet potatoes, corn, chili peppers, Aztec handicrafts, and European art. Over the course of 250 years, the influence of each other’s ideas, foods, arts, and customs was shared internationally.
Imagining a Manila Galleon Voyage
The Manila Galleon replica is a favorite stop for many visitors to the Bandera Natural History and Art Museum. “Woah!,” “Look at that!,” and “Oh my gosh!” are just some of the amazed reactions when guests step inside the Manila Galleon room. Most are a bit stunned; they just stop, gaze and point out several of the hundreds of intricate details; imagining what making one of these voyages might’ve been like.
In honor of Día del Galeón, consider stopping by the museum and see if you can find fun details like: copper mugs, barrels with spigots, a white and gold clock, a dog, leopard, pineapples, green silk, candelabras, Persian carpet, elephant tusks, the rudder, rifles, spices, or the anchor with chain. Note the people on board and consider what their long days at sea for months at a time might’ve been like.
The intricate presentation will nudge your imagination back to the 1500s, 1600s and 1700s transpacific traveling adventures. Then, pop into the adjacent New Spain Art Hall and see if you can detect any pieces of art with Spanish, Moorish, Aztec or Asian influences. Try to absorb how 250 years of the meeting of these cultures brought about an abundance of tremendous and unique beauty.
Why October 8?
It was the brilliance and bravery of Spanish priest Friar Andrés de Urdaneta that Oct. 8 was chosen as the Day of the Galleon; for it was on Octo. 8, 1565, that the Augustinian priest and crew arrived in Acapulco, after having successfully navigated the difficult eastward passage across the Pacific Ocean from Manilla.
While the westward journey from Acapulco to Manila was discovered with relative ease, the eastward passage “tornaviaje” (return route) had eluded the New Spain traders for decades. Due to years of studying prevailing winds and currents and keeping fastidious notes, Urdaneta was able to find the current that would guide the Manila Galleons back across the Pacific Ocean to Mexico—a water current now known as the Kuroshio Current. This newly-discovered route offered a far more practical way for galleons to travel the vast, often treacherous Pacific. Consequently, from that Oct. 8 day, until 1815, many galleons traveled back and forth across the Pacific Ocean helping sailors and merchants to trade, learn and share enlightening traditions with each other.
How the Manila Galleon Era Impacted the World
When galleons arrived in Manila, the traders found a vast array of intriguing Asian goods to bring back to New Spain: spices, silks, jade, carpets, beeswax, honey, ceramics, oranges, pearls, unique arts, crafts, exotic animals, and more—rare items to those in New Spain and Spain. In Asia, people were intrigued to acquire things such as silver, cocoa beans, wines, cochineal (for brilliant red paints), pottery, tobacco, sweet potatoes, corn, chili peppers, Aztec handicrafts, and European art. Over the course of 250 years, the influence of each other’s ideas, foods, arts, and customs was shared internationally.
Imagining a Manila Galleon Voyage
The Manila Galleon replica is a favorite stop for many visitors to the Bandera Natural History and Art Museum. “Woah!,” “Look at that!,” and “Oh my gosh!” are just some of the amazed reactions when guests step inside the Manila Galleon room. Most are a bit stunned; they just stop, gaze and point out several of the hundreds of intricate details; imagining what making one of these voyages might’ve been like.
In honor of Día del Galeón, consider stopping by the museum and see if you can find fun details like: copper mugs, barrels with spigots, a white and gold clock, a dog, leopard, pineapples, green silk, candelabras, Persian carpet, elephant tusks, the rudder, rifles, spices, or the anchor with chain. Note the people on board and consider what their long days at sea for months at a time might’ve been like.
The intricate presentation will nudge your imagination back to the 1500s, 1600s and 1700s transpacific traveling adventures. Then, pop into the adjacent New Spain Art Hall and see if you can detect any pieces of art with Spanish, Moorish, Aztec or Asian influences. Try to absorb how 250 years of the meeting of these cultures brought about an abundance of tremendous and unique beauty.