Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

What is Hispanic Heritage Month?

Celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Many Hispanic Americans trace their roots to the cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Americas -- including the Arawaks (Puerto Rico), the Aztecs (Mexico), the Incas (South America), the Maya (Central America), and the Tainos (in Cuba, Puerto Rico and other places).

Some trace their roots to the Spanish explorers -- who in the 1400s set out to find an easier and less costly way to trade with the Indies. Other Latinos trace their roots to the Africans who were brought as slaves to the New World. For purposes of the U.S. Census, Hispanic Americans today are identified according to the parts of the world that they or their ancestors came from, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain, or the nations of Central or South America.

Day of the Dead

Día de los Muertos Celebrations in Guatemala

The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos)[1][2] is a holiday celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November. It originated and is mostly observed in Mexico but also in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. Although associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, it has a much less solemn tone and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning.[3] The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died.

Tapetes - Mexico

Spanish for “rug,” Dia de los Muertos tapetes are large, colorful piece of art made on the ground as part of the Dia de los Muertos celebration in parts of Mexico. They are made of colored sand, sawdust, or even pieces of flowers, feathers and other organic material. Tapetes can measure up to ten meters long and wide, and depict playful images of death.

The Latino Americans

Premiering in 2013, The Latino Americans was the first major documentary series for television to chronicle the rich and varied history and experiences of Latinos, who have helped shape North America over the last 500-plus years and have become, with more than 50 million people, the largest minority group in the U.S.

Learn more about the documentary here.

Visit the Smithsonian Latino Center

The Smithsonian Latino Center was created in 1997 to promote Latino presence within the Smithsonian. The Center is not represented in one physical location; rather, it works collaboratively with the Institution's museums and research centers, ensuring that the contributions of the Latino community in the arts, history, national culture and scientific achievement are explored, presented, celebrated and preserved.

The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire

Construction of the Inka Road stands as one of the monumental engineering achievements in history. A network more than 20,000 miles long, crossing mountains and tropical lowlands, rivers and deserts, the Great Inka Road linked Cusco, the administrative capital and spiritual center of the Inka world, to the farthest reaches of its empire.
View the online exhibition

The first thing to pop into your mind when you hear "Latino" is probably people from Latin America - places like Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, etc. But where exactly did the history of that word come from, and has it always meant Central America and South America as well as the Caribbean? Today Danielle traces the origin of the term "Latino" and the debates that still surround it as well as the term "Hispanic" and "Latinx."

Proud of our Past, Embracing our Future

Have you ever heard a salsa rhythm that just made you want to groove? Perhaps bitten into a loaded taco bursting with flavor that makes you wonder how all of these flavors got into one bite? Maybe you have heard a friend from the Dominican Republic speaking Spanish to a companion from Argentina and thought, wow are they both really speaking the same language? Take a dive deeper into the world of Hispanic and Latinx heritage! Meet National Park Service and other Department of the Interior staff as they share their heritage and get just a small taste of the immense diversity of the Hispanic and Latinx experience. Take advantage of this time set aside to learn something new about the many flavors of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage! (Video made in partnership with the Department of the Interior's National Association of Hispanic Employees and National Park Service's Hispanic Organization on Relevancy, Advising, Leadership, and Excellence.)

To learn more here.

What are the stories of U.S. Latinos and how do they inform the broader American narrative? From southern Florida to the San Juan Islands of Washington state, from the pre-history of the nation through today's most contentious issues, Latino experiences illuminate our country’s history and its struggle to live up to its ideals. This collection of lesson plans, videos and classroom resources invites teachers and students to explore the history, people and issues chronicled in the PBS series, Latino Americans. Along the way, it engages students in dramatic real-life stories and offers primary texts that serve the goals of the Common Core.

For information on Latino Americans, click here.


Mexico - Theme Activities Explore fun, engaging and exciting world themed activities to do with toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners. Our activities are widely used by teachers, moms, dads, child care providers and more! To learn more here.	Guatemala - Worry Dolls Worry dolls are an ingenious Guatemalan craft that help ease troubles of parents and children who are working together to cope with stress associated with sickness and poverty . The idea is to make a likeness of the child and place it under their pillow at night. The belief is that the doll will take away the worry or sickness as they sleep. Like a dream catcher the act of making the craft is soothing. To learn how to make them here.	Spain - Castanets or Castañuelas The castanets or castañuelas are a wonderfully unique instrument. Although they are most often associated with Spanish music, no one knows for certain where they originated. There are historical accounts of castanets in countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy and in cultures and empires that flourished in the region such as the ancient Romans, Ottomans and Sephartic people. *Supplies For This Project:* *A small amount of sturdy paper (such as a recycled manila folder or poster board)* *Pairs of buttons* *Glue or glue gun* To learn more about castanets castañuelas here.

Mexico - Theme Activities

Explore fun, engaging and exciting world themed activities to do with toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners. Our activities are widely used by teachers, moms, dads, child care providers and more!

To learn more here.

Guatemala - Worry Dolls

Worry dolls are an ingenious Guatemalan craft that help ease troubles of parents and children who are working together to cope with stress associated with sickness and poverty . The idea is to make a likeness of the child and place it under their pillow at night. The belief is that the doll will take away the worry or sickness as they sleep. Like a dream catcher the act of making the craft is soothing.

To learn how to make them here.

Spain - Castanets or Castañuelas

The castanets or castañuelas are a wonderfully unique instrument. Although they are most often associated with Spanish music, no one knows for certain where they originated. There are historical accounts of castanets in countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy and in cultures and empires that flourished in the region such as the ancient Romans, Ottomans and Sephartic people.

Supplies For This Project:

A small amount of sturdy paper (such as a recycled manila folder or poster board)

Pairs of buttons

Glue or glue gun

To learn more about castanets castañuelas here.


PUERTO RICO - TAÍNO PETROGLYPHS: ROCK ART FOR KIDS The Taínos left behind petroglyphs that are images created by incising, picking, carving, or abrading on the surface of the rock to create a form of rock art. With these images archaeologist have been able to understand their way of living, customs and beliefs of the Taínos. The Taínos worshiped and respected all living things and honored them in the form of carvings cut into rocks. To learn more here.	PANAMÁ - “MOLA:” FOLK-ART One of Panama’s best-known handicrafts is the mola, intricate reverse-applique handwork made by the Kuna, and now an important symbol of their culture. The layers of brightly-colored fabric form animals or geometric shapes, and are used to decorate the blouses of Kuna women. In fact, the most outstanding designs take hours of complex sewing to complete and is a source of status, and a display of artistic expression and ethnic identity. To learn more here.	Ojo de Dios (Eye of God) This craft originates from the Ojo de Dios (Eye of God) cultural symbol made by the Huichol Indians of Mexico. The four points represent earth, fire, air, and water, and provided God’s watchful eye over their people. To learn more here.

PUERTO RICO - TAÍNO PETROGLYPHS: ROCK ART FOR KIDS

The Taínos left behind petroglyphs that are images created by incising, picking, carving, or abrading on the surface of the rock to create a form of rock art. With these images archaeologist have been able to understand their way of living, customs and beliefs of the Taínos. The Taínos worshiped and respected all living things and honored them in the form of carvings cut into rocks.

To learn more here.

PANAMÁ - “MOLA:” FOLK-ART

One of Panama’s best-known handicrafts is the mola, intricate reverse-applique handwork made by the Kuna, and now an important symbol of their culture. The layers of brightly-colored fabric form animals or geometric shapes, and are used to decorate the blouses of Kuna women. In fact, the most outstanding designs take hours of complex sewing to complete and is a source of status, and a display of artistic expression and ethnic identity.

To learn more here.

Ojo de Dios (Eye of God)

This craft originates from the Ojo de Dios (Eye of God) cultural symbol made by the Huichol Indians of Mexico. The four points represent earth, fire, air, and water, and provided God’s watchful eye over their people.

To learn more here.

EL FAROLITO (Dominican Republic)

Juan Luis Guerra (born June 7, 1957) is a Dominican singer, songwriter and producer who has sold over 30 million records, and won numerous awards including 15 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards. He recently won 3 Latin Grammy Awards in 2010, including Album of the Year.