National Museum of the American Latino Announces $1 Million Gift From U.S. Bank

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino has received a $1 million gift from U.S. Bank to support the development of the new museum, which opened its first gallery in June at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The gift reflects U.S. Bank’s commitment to serving diverse communities and bolsters the museum’s message that “Latino history is American history.”

“We thank U.S. Bank for their support and commitment to Latino representation,” said Jorge Zamanillo, director of the National Museum of the American Latino. “This generous gift will help us build a museum and educational community that recognizes the essential role the Latino experience has played in shaping the American story.” 

“We are focused on utilizing our core competencies as a financial institution to help close wealth disparities as a critical component of our work to create greater access to financial empowerment for our employees, customers and communities we serve,” said Greg Cunningham, chief diversity officer for U.S. Bank. “The gap is significant for the Hispanic and Latinx community, and our investment in the museum is a continuation of work we have planned to support Hispanic and Latinx individuals, families and businesses.”

The Latino Museum’s exhibition, “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States,” tells the stories of Latinas and Latinos who have shaped the United States, and the Molina Family Latino Gallery helps visitors imagine what they might see when the National Museum of the American Latino opens in its own building.

About the National Museum of the American Latino

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino advances the representation, understanding and appreciation of Latino history and culture in the United States. The museum collaborates with other museums to expand scholarly research, public programs, digital content, collections and more. The museum’s Molina Family Latino Gallery is the Smithsonian’s first gallery dedicated to the Latino experience. The legislation creating the National Museum of the American Latino at the Smithsonian passed Dec. 27, 2020. Connect with the museum at latino.si.edu, and follow @USLatinoMuseum on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

# # #

SI-284-2022