Washington, D.C. — The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) today celebrates the announcement that the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino has officially secured a permanent home on the National Mall. The Smithsonian Board of Regents voted to designate the historic Arts and Industries Building — a 145-year-old landmark situated between the Smithsonian Castle and the Hirshhorn Museum — as the museum’s permanent site, bringing to a close a decades-long effort to give the Latino community a lasting home at the heart of the nation’s capital.
“This is a milestone moment for our community and for the American story as a whole,” said CHLI Chairwoman, The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “For generations, Hispanics have shaped this country’s history, culture, and progress, and this museum will ensure those stories are told, preserved, and celebrated for generations to come. It is a true moment of celebration to know that the contributions and stories of Americans of Hispanic and Latino heritage now have a permanent home on the National Mall.”
Smithsonian’s Statement on the National Museum of the American Latino