There are more than 500 years of Hispanic heritage sites to explore throughout the nation. But it wasn’t until 1988 that National Hispanic Heritage Month became official, shining a spotlight on the people and places that exemplify the Latinx experience.
While most Hispanic heritage sites are in the western and southern U.S., the Northeast has some treasures that are definitely worth a visit. Here are some landmark destinations for making a tribute of your own – any time of year.
New York
Hispanic Society of America
The Hispanic Society of America was founded in 1904 by philanthropist Archer M. Huntington. Spurred by a passion for the diverse cultures of Spain, Latin America, Portugal and the Philippines, he began by displaying his extensive private holdings, a collection that continues to grow to this day: In fact, it currently houses the largest collection of Hispanic artifacts in the nation.
The museum is open to the public and shows exhibits ranging from paintings by masters like El Greco and Goya to photographs, books, ceramics, jewelry and furniture. As if this vast trove weren’t enough to scratch every history-lover’s itch, this New York landmark is an architectural gem in upper Manhattan’s legendary Audubon Terrace Historic District, a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
El Museo de Barrio
Not far south from the Hispanic Society is El Museo de Barrio. Founded in the 1960s by a broad community of Puerto Rican culture advocates, it is now home to a permanent collection of more than 8,000 objects. They span over an impressive 800 years of art history from Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to a wide range of popular, year-round events and temporary exhibits, its permanent collections focus on modern art, graphics, popular traditions, and Taíno and pre-Colombian artifacts. Be sure to check the website before you go for the latest family-friendly and community-oriented events.
Casa Amadeo, antigua Casa Hernandez
The Bronx is also home to a music store steeped in Hispanic heritage. Also on the National Register of Historic Places, Casa Amadeo is New York City’s oldest Latin record shop in continuous operation.
Opened in 1941 by siblings Victoria and Rafael Hernandez, it was bought in 1969 by legendary musician-composer Miguel Angel “Mike” Amadeo. Now in his late eighties, he still owns and operates it. You’ll find it on the ground floor of a beautiful 1905 neo-Renaissance building that has been managed by community housing organization Banana Kelly since the 1970s. Go for the history and the tunes, roam the area for a one-of-a-kind vibe.
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Hispanic cultural centers right outside NYC
One out of every five New Jerseyans identify as Latino or Hispanic. So it’s no surprise that a mere hop from New York City lie some prime destinations for soaking in the authentic food, culture, and heritage of the Spanish-speaking world.
Havana on the Hudson, the second most populated Latino/Hispanic area in the US, boasts ever-bustling Bergenline Avenue. The state’s longest commercial stretch, it beelines through the minority-majority cities of North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York and Union City.
A short 30-minute drive northwest is the Little Lima neighborhood in Paterson. Worth a visit in its own right, this Peruvian enclave also borders the city’s lively Italian, Puerto Rican, Dominican and Mexican neighborhoods.
If you’re looking for some Hispanic heritage that’s a bit older, head over to New Jersey’s largest city, Newark. The Newark Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of Latin American art and artifacts from the pre-Colombian era to today.
Rhode Island/Massachusetts
The Blackstone River Valley (National Heritage Corridor)
The birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution in the mid-19th century, the Blackstone River Valley was teeming with world-famous textile mills. But by the early 1960s, there was a shortage of skilled loom operators. This prompted mill owner Jay Giuttari to begin bringing master weavers up from Colombia, then Latin America’s largest textile manufacturer.
Many area mills soon caught on, sparking a new wave of immigration from South America that ensured the survival of the aging mills for a few more decades. In fact, Giuttari’s Lyon Silk Works stayed in operation until 2020. Now designated a National Heritage Corridor, this 48-mile stretch along the Blackstone River goes from Pawtucket, Central Falls and Providence in Rhode Island to Worcester, Massachusetts. These cities are still home to vibrant and varied Hispanic communities, many of whose residents helped preserve a valuable piece of American history.
What other places that are important to Hispanic heritage have you visited, or wanted to visit? Let us know in the comments below.
Read this article in Spanish.
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Massachusetts has extraordinary ways to celebrate Hispanic/Latinx community including people from many different nations and regions of the world. Individuals of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central American and South American descent have been part of the American cultural tapestry for centuries.
Central Falls, RI is home to Rhode Island Latino Arts La Galleria and is managed by Marta V. Martinez. Martinez and the RI Latino Arts put together an oral history video about the Lyon Silk Mill and the family. I am sharing the link here.
http://nuestrasraicesri.net/LatinoPlacesThatMatter-BlackstoneValleyRI.html
In Newark, the Ironbound section near Penn Station (a five minute walk from the Newark Museum) on and off Ferry Street is a nearly completely Spanish, Portuguese (and Brazilian) neighborhood that boasts some of the best Spanish and Portuguese restaurants in the New York area (Don Pepe, Fornos of Spain, Spanish Tavern, and many, many more. A five minute walk from Ferry Street across the bridge in Harrison you will find cafes, Brazilian and other high end restaurants surrounding the New York Red Bulls Soccer Arena. Friendly matches between Spanish, South American and European National teams and Premier League squads are common, but get tickets early: these matches sell out with more than 30,000 attendees from Hispanic New York.
This is very exciting! Who would have thought the USA had clusters of people of Hispanic heritage in the USA. I love history but thought migration from South America was more recent.