American Latinos and Latinas have lived within the United States since before its borders were formalized. Both Latino immigrants and those who have called the lands of the United States home for thousands of years are integral to the culture and community of the nation.
Woven as they are into the fabric of America, there are countless sites across the continent that tell their stories. Here are a few of those, with links to many more.
César E. Chávez National Monument is dedicated to the prominent Mexican American civil rights activist and union leader César E. Chávez. A 1.9 acre (.8 ha) section of the monument is overseen by the National Park Service and includes a visitor center with exhibits like César’s office, the Chávez family home, and the gravesite of César and his wife Helen. The rest of the 117 acre (47 ha) property is managed by the César Chávez Foundation.
César E. Chávez, along with other activists like Dolores Huerta and Larry Itliong, organized farm laborers into unions and led protests to garner rights and better working conditions for farm workers. Like many civil rights leaders of the 1960s, Chávez was a student of nonviolent protest and promoted peaceful strikes, fasts, and marches. Today he is considered an American Latino folk hero and a pioneering voice for peaceful activism in the United States. The national monument that bears his name celebrates that heritage and shares it with this and future generations.
Known as the “front door” to the Spanish territories of the New World, the military fortifications at San Juan National Historic Site were a deterrent to enemies and a vital base of support for Spanish conquests. Spain spent over 250 years constructing sites that are protected today as part of the park, including Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, most of the city walls, the San Juan Gate and Fort San Juan de la Cruz.
Today, visitors to the site can explore the island’s rich history, admire its impressive architecture, and discover the blending of cultures that makes this island community unique.
Nestled in the once-disputed territory between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Chamizal National Memorial is a small urban park that honors the culture and struggles of the people of the borderlands.
For a century, residents of Mexico and the United States claimed the same land where these two towns met. In 1964 a compromise was struck, and the Rio Grande River which forms the international boundary here was restricted to a concrete channel through the town, clearly and permanently delineating the border.
The new border ended the conflict, but it also gave much of the disputed territory to the United States, forcing thousands of people to abandon their homes and businesses and evacuate to Mexico.
Today Chamizal memorializes the conflict and the stories of those who were forcibly removed, as well as the culture of the peoples who live and have long lived along the border. The park features an art gallery and a performing arts theater, both of which promote local artists.
Bonus: Blackwell School National Historic Site (Texas)
A recent addition to the National Park Service, Blackwell School was designated a national historic site in 2022. The Blackwell School operated as a segregated school in Marfa, Texas from its opening in 1909 until 1965, when schools were integrated. The school was the only educational institution in the area for Mexicans and Mexican American citizens.
Visitors today can visit the school on limited days, though the park is building in its operations.
Want more? Explore a comprehensive list of American Latino Heritage sites, as well as a list of American Latino LGBTQ+ sites. Or check out our Park of the Week Newsletter featuring San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.