Making History: Building the National Museum of the American Latino

A special presentation in partnership with Smithsonian Affiliations and Jorge Zamanillo, founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino.

Jorge Zamanillo will share the vision, process, and next steps in developing the Smithsonian’s newest museum, which honors the dreams, challenges, and triumphs of U.S. Latinos, and elevates Latino stories within the nation’s narrative. He will discuss the journey from congressional authorization to planning and design, and the collaborative process shaping a museum that reflects the diversity, creativity, and resilience of Latinos nationwide.

The presentation will also highlight how the museum is building meaningful partnerships across the country to ensure that Latino stories are not only represented in Washington, D.C. but are rooted in communities nationwide. Discover how institutions like the Connecticut Museum, and neighborhoods such as Hartford’s North End, can play a vital role in shaping and participating in this national effort.

This program offers an opportunity to learn how a national museum is being built with community at its heart and how Connecticut’s Latino communities can help inform and inspire its future.

Space is limited! Get free tickets online at connecticutmuseum.org to reserve your spot.

Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Public Programs Manager, at nbelanger@connecticutmuseum.org.

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About the Speaker:
Jorge Zamanillo is the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino, which Congress established in December 2020. Zamanillo provides leadership and strategic direction for the museum and guides the museum’s comprehensive plan to preserve, document, display/interpret and promote knowledge of U.S. Latino history, art and culture. Zamanillo and his team are also integrating and building on programs previously managed by the Smithsonian Latino Center and working on new museum collaborations, digital resources, exhibitions and fundraising.

Previously, Zamanillo was the executive director and CEO of HistoryMiami Museum. Before joining HistoryMiami Museum, Zamanillo was an archaeologist at the non-profit cultural resource management firm Archaeological and Historical Conservancy Inc. in Miami. Born in New York City, Zamanillo grew up in Miami and earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology at Florida State University in Tallahassee and his master’s in museum studies at the University of Leicester in Leicester, England.

The Making History, Making Change Lecture Series is a national collaboration between the Smithsonian and 25 Smithsonian Affiliate organizations, featuring expert-led talks that explore the people, moments, and ideals that have shaped—and continue to shape—the American experience.

The Making History, Making Change Lecture Series is organized by Smithsonian Affiliations as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250. It is supported in part by the Dreier Family, Johanna and Ken Kim Family, Vaishali Shah Chadha and Family, and Michael Vu & Meridel Bulle-Vu.

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