The Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents has officially chosen the historic Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall as the permanent home of the National Museum of the American Latino. The decision ends a long debate over the museum’s location and removes the need for Congress to approve a new site because the Smithsonian already owns the building. In an official statement issued on 31 August, the board said converting the existing building completes a multi-year site review authorised by Congress in December 2020. First opened in 1881 as the United States National Museum, the Arts and Industries Building is the second-oldest building in the Smithsonian complex. Structural problems forced it to close completely in 2004, followed by years of deterioration. A $55 million restoration later strengthened the roof and exterior, allowing temporary exhibitions and special events to return.According to The Washington Post, choosing an existing building means the Smithsonian can avoid a long congressional debate over unused land on the National Mall. Other sites considered included open areas near the Capitol reflecting pool and undeveloped land controlled by the National Park Service. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat welcomed the decision after the board’s vote. “Today the Smithsonian Board of Regents chose to house the National Museum of the American Latino in a prominent location on the National Mall. The Arts and Industries Building — a true jewel — will shine like never before as the new, permanent home for this great American project,” said CHC Chair Espaillat in a public statement. “It has been a personal privilege to be part of turning this idea into a reality. This is a great victory for the Latino community, which until now has lacked a ship to take our story to port.”
Overcoming political resistance and site hurdles
The decision to reuse an existing building comes after years of political debate over the museum. Reports from Reuters and The New York Times said the project faced opposition from congressional Republicans, while budget proposals from the Trump administration sought to remove dedicated construction funding and instead support exhibits spread across different Smithsonian museums. Because the Smithsonian already owns the Arts and Industries Building, the decision removes the need for new federal legislation to approve the site. The Smithsonian said the choice moves the project directly into the development process set out by Congress when it authorised the museum in 2020. The National Museum of the American Latino opened its first physical preview space, the Molina Family Latino Gallery, inside the National Museum of American History in 2022. The gallery was created to host temporary exhibitions for up to 10 years while plans for a permanent museum were developed. Jorge Zamanillo, director of the National Museum of the American Latino, has previously said creating a dedicated museum building would take many years. “It will take 10 to 12 years to open a museum building, but the gallery gives the public a preview of the museum’s potential,” said Jorge Zamanillo during the opening of the Molina Family Latino Gallery.
Architectural heritage and future conversion costs
Architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze designed the Arts and Industries Building, which was built to display exhibits from the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Made with colourful brick and geometric tilework, the red-brick landmark stands next to the original Smithsonian Institution Building, known as the Castle. Despite its historic importance, converting the 19th-century building into a modern museum will require major engineering work and investment. Early estimates reported by Reuters suggest that upgrading the interior, adding climate control and expanding exhibition areas could cost about $1 billion. The Smithsonian will need major private donations as well as federal funding to pay for the interior reconstruction. The earlier $55 million restoration protected the building’s outer structure from serious damage, but the inside is still largely an open, high-ceilinged space that needs a complete modernisation. The selection of the Arts and Industries Building ends the debate over the museum’s location and gives Latino history and culture a permanent place on the National Mall. The Smithsonian is expected to provide more details on architectural plans and fundraising for the interior work during upcoming board briefings.