Smithsonian picks Arts and Industries Building for National Museum of the American Latino

The Smithsonian has designated the Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall as the permanent home of the National Museum of the American Latino, ending the site search for the congressionally authorized project. The United States Hispanic Business Council praised the decision and said fundraising and planning now move to the next phase.

Why it matters: - The Smithsonian’s decision gives the National Museum of the American Latino a permanent address on the National Mall, a symbolic location at the center of the nation’s public history. - The museum is meant to recognize the contributions of Hispanics to American society across generations. - The site selection closes a long-running question that had delayed the project’s next phase.

What happened: - The Smithsonian Board of Regents designated the Arts and Industries Building as the permanent location for the National Museum of the American Latino. - The announcement ends the museum’s site-selection process. - Congress authorized the museum in 2020. - The United States Hispanic Business Council applauded the decision and said it will continue supporting the project until completion.

The details: - USHBC President and CEO Javier Palomarez called the decision “a milestone thirty years in the making.” - Palomarez said the museum will stand alongside some of the country’s most historic buildings and reflect the history of Hispanics in American society. - USHBC said it has long supported a permanent museum on the National Mall. - In April 2025, USHBC and a coalition of Hispanic chambers of commerce sent letters to President Trump and congressional leadership asking for a National Mall location. - USHBC said it worked with a bipartisan group in the 119th Congress to support the museum’s permanent home. - USHBC thanked Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, Adriano Espaillat and Nanette Barragán, along with Sens. Alex Padilla, Ted Cruz, Catherine Cortez Masto, Bernie Moreno, Ben Ray Luján and Ruben Gallego, and others for their support. - Palomarez said funding remains necessary to transform the 150-year-old building into a modern museum. - USHBC said it remains committed to working with the Smithsonian Institution, Congress and private-sector partners on the next steps. - The release links to the advocacy letter to congressional leadership, the letter to President Trump, and asks readers to follow @myushbc and @JPalomarez on X.

Between the lines: - The Smithsonian’s choice signals momentum for a museum that has relied on bipartisan support and sustained advocacy to reach this point. - The fundraising challenge suggests the announcement settles the location question, but not the delivery question. - The National Mall location raises the project’s visibility and likely increases expectations for the museum’s scale and quality.

What's next: - USHBC said it will keep pushing the project forward with the Smithsonian, Congress and private-sector partners. - The next major hurdle is raising funds to renovate the Arts and Industries Building for museum use. - The museum’s eventual opening will depend on how quickly those resources and planning milestones come together.

The bottom line: - The National Museum of the American Latino now has its permanent home, but the work to turn that decision into a finished museum is just beginning.