National Museum of the American Latino

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino advances the representation, understanding and appreciation of art, history, culture, scientific contributions and experiences of Latinos in the United States.

The U.S. Congress enacted legislation in December 2020 establishing the National Museum of the American Latino at the Smithsonian, which stated that the purposes of the museum are "to illuminate the story of the United States for the benefit of all by featuring Latino contributions to the art, history and culture of the nation since its early history."

Though the physical museum has not yet been built, the museum currently oversees the Smithsonian’s first exhibition space dedicated to the Latino experience—the Molina Family Latino Gallery—at the National Museum of American History. The museum also conducts scholarly research, produces public programs and digital content, and cares for collections.

Latino History is American History.

The contributions and experiences of Latinos in the United States are an essential part of our nation's history and culture. The National Museum of the American Latino will showcase the diverse history and culture of Latinos in the United States by preserving and celebrating the rich heritage and help all visitors understand and appreciate the contributions of Latinos to American society.

Join Us in Making History.

Now more than ever, we need your support to bring the National Museum of the American Latino to life. Join us on this incredible journey as we build a world-class destination that centers and celebrates the Latino experience as essential to the American narrative. Together, we can illuminate the full American story for all and inspire future generations.

Under the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future, the museum is raising support for the following priorities:

1. Planning, design, and construction of the museum building;
2. Collections storage;
3. Digital infrastructure and developing a virtual museum;
4. Educational outreach and public programs; and
5. Endowment of the museum director position.