Written By: Jack Robertson

Today, we got to learn a lot about the historic Teatro Arriaga Antzokia. Though the day didn’t involve much professional development, it was really interesting to see how the history of the theater connects to different eras of Spanish history.

The theater has a fabulous design. Much of the flooring is carpeted, and the color scheme consists mainly of white, red, and gold. The photo above shows the central staircase, which serves as an eye-catching centerpiece as you enter through the front entrance of the building.

The inside of the viewing area is just as fascinating, with seating spread across four different levels. There was also a set on the stage featuring smashed vending machines and other unique props. Since our first experience in this theater was attending an opera, it was interesting to see another event that the venue hosts.

Historically, many significant events have surrounded this theater over the years. Several decades ago, a major flood in Spain caused water levels to rise all the way up to the second level of the theater. There were many photos on display documenting this, and it was fascinating to learn how impactful the flood was not just for the theater, but for the entire region.

We also learned that the theater burned down in the early 1900s and took several years to rebuild. Although this happened long ago, it’s impressive how there’s no visible sign of that destruction today. The theater is beautiful and remarkably well-preserved in every place you look.

As a whole, I had a great time learning about Spanish history today. I think exploring the history of other countries is just as fascinating, and just as important, as understanding how we’ve reached where we are globally.

For example, the large Bilbao flood in 1983 wasn’t purely a natural disaster, but was worsened by the collapse of the city’s economic model, which led to consequences that couldn’t be managed. Events like this highlight the importance of fully understanding the long-term impacts of what we create. That idea is very important to me as an engineering student, where it serves as a reminder to make responsible and well-thought out choices in my future career for the betterment of society.

History is incredibly valuable, and today was a perfect example of why that is. While also being a genuinely fun, touring the theater was a very insightful and engaging experience, and I’m very grateful to have been able to see it.