Why the U.S. needs a Latino-American Museum: A Q&A with Sen. Bob Menendez
Updated Dec 21, 2020;
The constellation of museums and galleries that comprise the Smithsonian Institution tell the story of American history and culture, with a notable exception: Not one is dedicated to the largest minority group in America.
There is no national museum that reflects the tableau of Hispanic Americans, who have been here longer than anyone and represent a venerable thread running through the fabric of our story.
Senator Robert Menendez has tried to change that for 26 years, and this year he is leading a bipartisan legislative effort to build a National Museum of the American Latino placed on the National Mall. Dave D’Alessandro of the Star-Ledger Editorial Board spoke with Menendez about it last week, with comments edited for brevity: