In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed National Hispanic Heritage Week to honor the contributions of Americans who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, the countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Twenty years later, Congress extended this recognition into an annual month-long celebration, from September 15 through October 15.
In honor of this year's National Hispanic Heritage Month, Smithsonian.com discusses the origins and impact of Latin jazz with musician Bobby Sanabria and revisits the works of Daniel Alarcon, James De La Vega, Graciela Iturbide and Vallenato artists in Columbia. In addition, Smithsonian.com offers a list of festivals, concerts and lectures at the Smithsonian Institution and throughout the country.
Calendar of Events
Hispanic Heritage Month Events
Learn about Hispanic Heritage celebrations in your state
At the Smithsonian
Learn about Hispanic Heritage celebrations at the Smithsonian Institution
Hispanic Heritage Month
Rhythm and Identity
A Q&A with Bobby Sanabria, musician, composer and professor of Latin jazz
A Musical Melting Pot
Vallenato artists combine instruments from around the world at Colombian music festival
The Juchitan Medusa
Photographer Graciela Iturbide’s Our Lady of the Iguanas became a symbol of Zapotec womanhood
Spanish Harlem’s Hero
Guerilla artist James De La Vega uses art to create dialogue
The World of Alarcon
Novelist Daniel Alarcon immerses himself in the dark side of Peruvian society
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