National Museum of the American Latino

History of the commission

The idea for a national Smithsonian museum dedicated to the artistic, musical, literary, political, economic, and other socio-economic contributions of Americans with Cuban, Mexican, South American, and Spanish backgrounds (among others) was first broached in the mid-1990s.[2] In April 1993, Robert McC. Adams, Secretary of the Smithsonian, and Constance Berry Newman, Under Secretary, appointed a 15-member task force to study the role of and focus on Latinos in Smithsonian Institution budget, collections and exhibits, governance, personnel policies, and programs.[3] On May 10, 1994, the task issued a report, titled Willful Neglect, which concluded that the Smithsonian had ignored the contributions of Hispanics and Latinos in its exhibits and that a new national museum might help to correct the problem.[2][3]
In 2003, Representative Xavier Becerra introduced legislation to establish a commission to study such a museum.[1] However, the bill did not become law for several years. On May 8, 2008, the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of the National Museum of the American Latino Act of 2007 was signed into law. The law created a 23-member commission whose members were appointed by the President and the leadership of the House and Senate. The commission was authorized to spend $3.2 million over two years,[1] and charged with studying the need for a museum, the museum's vision and purpose, possible governance structure, potential sites, construction costs, and how funds for the museum might be raised.[4] (It is not charged with making proposals about the specific exhibits or content of any museum.)[2] The commission held its inaugural meeting on September 18-19, 2009.[5] Henry Munoz III, a San Antonio, Texas, architect, was chosen as the commission's chairman.[4]
In February 2020, the commission gave a preliminary estimate of $250 million to $500 million for construction alone.[4] The commission hired contractors to help with its feasibility studies.[4] A series of public meetings were held to judge public interest in a museum, and provide input and feedback on the issues under discussion by the commission.[6] In May 2010, commission staff said that the commission was considering a traveling or "virtual" museum, as well as locating the museum in a city other than Washington, D.C..[7] The commission also heard testimony voicing concern over the use of the word "Latino" in the museum's name.[8]
[edit]Commission report

The commission's report, originally expected in the fall of 2010,[4] is now anticipated for release in early May 2011.[2] However, on April 21, 2011, the New York Times reported that the commission had already settled on a building about 310,000 square feet (29,000 m2) in size, which would be approximately the same size as the $250 million National Museum of African American History and Culture (fund-raising for which is ongoing, and is not yet built).[2] The newspaper also reported that the commission has selected four sites (all of them on the National Mall) for the proposed museum (although three of the sites would be addititions to existing museums rather than a stand-alone museum).[2]
The museum proposal has drawn some criticism for encouraging cultural isolationism, for seeking space on the already-crowded National Mall, and for its cost.[2]