In 1923, the American medievalist Arthur Kingsley Porter (1883-1933) published his tenvolume book on Romanesque Sculpture of the Pilgrimage Roads. This article analyzes and contextualizes Porter’s first trip to northern Spain in 1920. This was his only journey to Santiago de Compostela prior to the publication of his book. It therefore played a fundamental role in the conceptualization of his arguments, which brought many medieval monuments in Spain to international scholarly attention for the first time. Drawing on archival sources, the essay explores Porter’s initial encounters with the art and culture of northern Spain, identifies some of the sites he visited along the Way of St. James, and considers his modus operandi, especially his representation of individual works of Romanesque art and architecture through first-hand study, writing, and photography.