After nearly two decades of advocacy, Congress passed the National Museum of the American Latino Act on December 27, 2020. Since its passage, the Smithsonian Institution has been working on laying the groundwork for the future opening of the museum. On October 27, 2022, the Smithsonian Board of Regents identified two optimal locations on the National Mall–the South Monument and Tidal Basin sites– for the future National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.. Unfortunately, the Smithsonian does not have the required authority to build on those locations.

The National Museum of the American Latino must be built on our National Mall, which is why our job is not finished. 

To proceed with the planning and building of the Latino museum, Congress must grant the Smithsonian authorization to designate a location on the National Mall. This means, Congress must come together once again to support the National Museum of the American Latino. 

After years of hard work and dedicated support from across the country, we have arrived at a critical moment for our campaign that will ultimately decide the fate of the Latino museum. As it stands today and without Congressional action, the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum will not stand next to the other iconic Smithsonian Museums that tell the story of our nation–on the National Mall. An unacceptable reality. 

Our stories, history, and culture deserve to be in the limelight shoulder-to-shoulder with the other iconic museums where our nation’s history is presented for the 24 million guests that come annually from around the nation and around the world. 

The time is now – we need your help to urge Congress to grant the Smithsonian the authority to build the National Museum of the American Latino ON our National Mall. 

Pick up the phone and call your Representative by following these three easy steps:

1. Enter your zip code or address into the form on the right.
2. If your Representative’s phone number is not provided, call the Congressional switchboard operator at (202) 224-3121 to get transferred to your designated office.
3. Ask your Representative to support legislation that would authorize building the National American Latino Museum on our National Mall (script below):

“Hello my name is (______) and as your constituent, I urge you to support the building of the National American Latino Museum on the National Mall. The creation of this museum is long overdue, and it will educate, inspire, and encourage understanding of the richness and diversity of the American Latino experience within the U.S. (Insert what an American Latino museum would mean to you). There is no place other than the National Mall for the future Latino museum.

I hope I can count on you to co-sponsor legislation that would grant the Smithsonian the authority to designate a site on the National Mall, and make the National Museum of the American Latino a reality.”