About the American Latino Museum

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino honors the dreams, challenges, and triumphs of U.S. Latinos, elevating our stories within the nation’s narrative. We create transformative experiences, foster a deeper understanding of American history and culture, and connect communities nationwide.

We envision a future where Latino communities belong, stories unfold, and cultures connect.

The National Museum of the American Latino was created in 2020 by an act of Congress as part of the Smithsonian Institution. The act also established the Smithsonian National Women’s History Museum. The Latino Museum is yet to be built, but the Smithsonian hired its founding director, Jorge Zamanillo, in 2022 and established its board of trustees in 2021. The Board consists of 19 citizens, the Smithsonian Secretary and Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, one member of the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents and two members of Congress. The board helps with fundraising and advises and assists the Regents on matters related to the museum’s development. 

The museum brings together the experiences of all Latino communities in the United States to foster a deeper appreciation of their contributions to national history and culture. As part of the Smithsonian, the museum will be more than an iconic destination in Washington, DC. It will be a place where stories and understanding unfold to recognize Latinos’ role in what it means to be American. 

To implement this vision, the museum’s core strategic priorities for the next five years include:

• Assembling a world-class collection of objects that speak powerfully about the Latino experience;
• Establishing and enabling a core team of dedicated professionals whose expertise, skills, and attitudes are fully attuned to the museum’s purpose, vision, mission, and priorities;
• Building an innovative community-centered national museum and network;
• Leading a national educational campaign about Latinos’ contributions to American society and culture; and
• Establishing a global brand to secure the financial resources for future construction and operations.

In addition to pursuing these core strategic priorities, the museum is simultaneously focused on finalizing the location of its building on or near the National Mall, which is home to many Smithsonian museums. The Smithsonian’s Board of Regents has identified at this time an optimal site for the museum with the greatest potential based on site-selection evaluative criteria combined with stakeholder input: Tidal Basin site—undeveloped land bordered by Raoul Wallenberg Place S.W., Maine Avenue S.W. and Independence Avenue S.W., under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. 

This site requires congressional approval before the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents can finalize this designation, and Congress is still considering this proposal.

The museum generates programs to advance the representation, understanding, and appreciation of Latino history and culture in the United States. It also collaborates with other museums and organizations to expand scholarly research, public programs, digital content, and collections, among other initiatives. 

Temporary Exhibit Space: The museum operates the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History, which is a 4,500-square-foot gallery that features temporary exhibitions and educational programs. The Molina Gallery is an incubator space dedicated to testing themes, content, exhibit design, visitor experiences, and more to inform the development and offerings of the museum itself when it opens in a decade or so. The gallery’s first exhibition, “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States," opened in 2022. The museum's next temporary exhibition, “¡Puro Ritmo: The Musical Journey of Salsa,” is slated to open in spring 2026.

Public Programming: The museum shares and invites communities to share stories about Latino history, art, culture, and experiences through public programs, serving audiences of all ages. These programs include Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, concerts, films, lectures, group and school visits, online programs, and other special events. These programs take place at the General Motors Learning Lounge, situated within the Molina Gallery, in museums across the Smithsonian, and communities nationwide.

Future Leadership and Impact: The museum offers internships, fellowships, and youth development opportunities for students ranging from graduating high school seniors to college undergraduates and pre- and post-doc graduate students. These programs offer a range of benefits, including leadership training and college preparation, as well as exposure to various interdisciplinary fields within the museum sector, such as conservation, exhibit design, and collections management, alongside opportunities for in-depth research. 

In addition to rolling out a new logo and brand identity, the National Museum of the American Latino has kicked off multiple campaigns to raise awareness and support for the museum. 

National Outreach: The museum is building on community listening sessions that it has carried out across the country, visiting over 22 states and 30 communities to launch a national campaign to introduce the museum in all parts of the U.S., hear stories, collect objects and learn from communities what they would like to see in the museum as it is developed.

Membership and Fundraising: The museum launched its inaugural national membership campaign in 2024. It continues to expand that program to provide the financial foundation and public support for the museum's building over the next decade.

For updates on the American Latino Museum, visit latino.si.edu. Follow @USLatinoMuseum on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.