El Museo Latino is a

museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make these ...

featuring

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

and

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

art Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...

and

history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...

that is located at 4701 South 25th Street in

South Omaha, Nebraska South Omaha is a former city and current district of Omaha, Nebraska, United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. ...

. Established in 1993, by Magdalena García, it is the first Latino art and history museum and cultural center in the

Midwest The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...

History

El Museo Latino was established by Magdalena Garcia, a

Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...

native who had moved to Omaha at the age of nine. After working in industry for some years, Garcia had changed her focus to art and museums. In 1988, she obtained a degree in fine arts from the

University of Nebraska Omaha The University of Nebraska Omaha (Omaha or UNO) is a public research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1908 by faculty from the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary as a private non-sectarian college, the university was originally kno ...

; in 1992, a master's degree in museum management from

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

. She returned to Omaha and, in 1993, opened El Museo Latino in the Livestock Exchange Building.Logan, Casey.
"Get to Know: El Museo Latino founder picked passion over profession".''Omaha World-Herald''.
2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-08."El Museo Latino’s García to receive UNO Alumni Citation"
University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni Association. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
Archived 2007-09-29
In 1997, the museum moved to the former Polish Home, at 4701 S. 25th Street.
Retrieved 2015-12-08. The site had originally been occupied by the South Central School, built in 1887. In 1916, the school was essentially rebuilt, as a single-story U-shaped Romanesque Revival-style building."Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission Minutes: August 12, 2015"
Retrieved 2015-12-08. In 1930, following the school's closing, the building was acquired by the

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a non-profit organization of U.S. war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militi ...

. The Legion found themselves unable to keep up with the mortgage payments, and in 1936 sold the building to the Polish Home, a social organization serving the large Polish immigrant community in South Omaha. As the Polish Home, the building housed a library and served as a venue for Polish-language classes and for events such as dances, wedding receptions, and political rallies. The Polish Home owned the building until 1998, when it was sold to El Museo Latino.Hendee, David.
"Streetcar barn, Polish Home — now El Museo Latino — join National Register of Historic Places".''Omaha World-Herald''.
2015-12-01. Retrieved 2015-12-08.

About

El Museo Latino features exhibits about

and

. Educational programs for

kindergarten Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cent ...

through

twelfth grade Twelfth grade, 12th grade, senior year, or grade 12 is the final year of secondary school in most of North America. In other regions, it may also be referred to as class 12 or Year 13. In most countries, students are usually between the ages of 17 ...

, post-secondary, and adult audiences at the museum include lectures, slide presentations, films, art classes, workshops, demonstrations, art history classes, gallery talks, guided visits, and dance classes. Additionally, El Museo Latino is a resource center for

Latino studies Latino studies is an academic discipline which studies the experience of people of Latin American ancestry in the United States. Closely related to other ethnic studies disciplines such as African-American studies, Asian American studies, and ...

in the Midwest. Museum highlights have included an exhibit from the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

organized by actor

Edward James Olmos Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin "Marty" Castillo in ''Miami Vice'' (1984–1989), ''American Me'' (1992) (which he also dir ...

, along with works by

Diego Rivera Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez, known as Diego Rivera (; December 8, 1886 – November 24, 1957), was a prominent Mexican painter. His large frescoes helped establish the ...

and

Frida Kahlo Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (; 6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by the country's popular culture, ...

. Photographer David Bacon and painter Terry Rosenberg have also been featured. El Museo Latino organizes special events highlighting

Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo ( in Mexico, Spanish for "Fifth of May") is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoz ...

, including an annual ''almuerzo'', or brunch.

Hispanic Heritage Month National Hispanic Heritage Month (Spanish: ''Mes nacional de la herencia hispana'') is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, cul ...

in September features a banquet. During the year, Family Day celebrations are also scheduled as well as special dance performances by the museum's dance company, "CHOMARI" Ballet Folklorico Mexicano, and by visiting artists. The museum also coordinates an annual celebration for El Día de Muertos, including a festival, special exhibits and cultural celebrations.Harrison, J
"Graceful Dead: Living Honor the Departed in Upcoming, Hybrid Holiday,"
''Omaha City Weekly.'' Retrieved 2007-08-31. In 2015, the museum's building was listed in the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

, under the name "Polish Home".

References

External links

El Museo Latino
{{Omaha National Register of Historic Places in Omaha, Nebraska Hispanic and Latino American culture in Nebraska Museums in Omaha, Nebraska South Omaha, Nebraska Latino museums in the United States Ethnic museums in Nebraska

History

About

See also

References

External links