During National Hispanic Heritage Month, people across the country celebrate their culture and honor the many contributions of Latinos to American society. These include contributions to art, music, literature and politics — from Celia Cruz and Roberto Clemente to Sonia Sotomayor and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
In addition, there are more than a million Hispanic businesses and almost 60,000 schools that serve students with hispanic backgrounds. And according to 2020 data, Hispanics make up the second largest group of citizens in the United States.
Yet, as with other minority groups in the country, they still face economic disparities and lack representation in public life. And they continue to be disproportionately affected by criminal justice system overreach and immigration policies that limit opportunities for advancement.
The 2023 theme of National Hispanic Heritage Month – “Latinos Driving America’s Future” – aims to highlight the positive impact that the community is having on all aspects of American life and to promote the great strides that we have made in achieving equity. It also recognizes the many challenges that we still have to overcome to ensure that every member of the Latino community is able to achieve their full potential in the United States.
In 1968, Hispanic Heritage Week began as a one-week celebration and was expanded to a month in 1988. The observance begins on September 15, which is the anniversary of the independence of the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica. It concludes on October 12, which is the anniversary of Chile’s independence. In addition, the holiday honors the life of Christopher Columbus and his voyage to the Americas in 1492.
Hispanic heritage can be defined as a person’s family tree with roots in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean or Central and South America. This broad definition can be divisive because of different cultures that have developed in the Americas. Some prefer to use the term Latina or Latino, which is gender-neutral and includes a wider range of cultures from the region.
Others are more specific, like those from the Mexican-American community who grew up during the 1960s civil rights movement and may choose to identify as Chicano. Other Hispanics may go by their family’s nation of origin such as Colombian or Salvadoran American. All these identifiers are valid, and they help to reinforce that being Hispanic is not a monolith, but a tapestry of many traditions, languages and histories.
The Department of the Interior and its agencies preserve and interpret historic sites that connect Americans from diverse backgrounds to our shared history. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re sharing some of our favorite images from these historic sites around the country. Click through the gallery to learn more about these amazing places and visit one of them near you. And don’t forget to use the hashtag #NHM2019 to share your own stories of the month.