The following represents major projects that developed from the Department of the Interior's American Latino Heritage Initiative established in early 2011. The projects are being undertaken to increase the opportunities for historic places associated with American Latino history to be documented, preserved, and interpreted and for the public to better understand and appreciate the role of American Latinos in the development of the United States.

The National Park Service has worked to preserve and interpret historic places associated with the nation's Hispanic and Latino history. The link to the website Hispanic Heritage Month summarizes some of these efforts.

We appreciate your interest in this important aspect of U.S. history and invite your comments. Please send your comments via e-mail to American_Latino_Heritage@nps.gov.

Video

Learn more about Latino heritage with this online video "Conversations with American Latino Scholars Experts Panel" including Frances Negron-Mutaner, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English & Comparative Literature and Director, Center for the Study of Ethnicity & Race, Columbia University; Stephen J. Pitti, Ph.D., Professor of History and American Studies and Director, Program in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration, Yale University; and Antonia Castaneda, Ph.D., Independent Scholar, San Antonio, Texas, and retired Professor of History, St. Mary's University, Texas.

Theme Study

This study will assist with the evaluation of properties associated with American Latino history and potential nominations of these places to the National Register of Historic Places and for National Historic Landmark designation.

American Latino National Historic Landmark Nominations

Additional nominations for nationally significant American Latino historic properties will assist with their recognition, preservation, and interpretation.

Documentation of Forty Acres

Historical American Buildings Survey documentation of Forty Acres will result in measured drawings, a written historical document, and large format photography of Forty Acres, a designated National Historic Landmark property closely associated with the career of Cesar Chavez.

Nationwide Youth Summits

Two youth summits will be held to involve young Latinos and others with historic preservation in their communities, encourage the use of historic places as teaching tools, and encourage organizations involved with historic preservation to include young people in their work.

American Latino Travel Itinerary

This online intinerary will encourage greater awareness of and travel to American Latino historic properties featuring national parks and National Historic Landmarks.

Links

Research resources for Puerto Rican, Latino, Latin American and Caribbean Studies are available for documentation efforts.