The National Museum of the American Latino has a permanent location in Washington DC: the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall. The Smithsonian Board of Regents designated the building as the museum’s permanent site on August 31, 2026.
The announcement says the decision replaces the board’s October 2022 recommendation and concludes the site-selection process. That settles where the museum will go. When visitors can walk through its permanent galleries is still unknown. Read the Smithsonian’s statement.
National Museum of the American Latino: Quick facts
Where will the National Museum of the American Latino be?
The selected building is at 900 Jefferson Drive SW, on the National Mall. It is an existing Smithsonian landmark, not a new museum building that has already been constructed. Official building listing.
The Arts and Industries Building opened in 1881 as the country’s first U.S. National Museum. The Smithsonian describes it as its second-oldest building, and its first event was President James Garfield’s inaugural ball on March 4, 1881. Building history.
For people who have passed the red-brick building without going inside, this decision gives it a specific future use: a permanent home for a museum dedicated to the history and contributions of U.S. Latinos.
What happened to the earlier location proposal?
The museum’s earlier proposal centered on a Tidal Basin site on land under National Park Service jurisdiction. The museum’s background page explains that the proposal required congressional approval before the Smithsonian could finalize the designation. That page still describes the earlier plan, so read it alongside the newer announcement. Museum background.
The August 31 decision supersedes the 2022 recommendation. The Arts and Industries Building is now the selected permanent site. Smithsonian statement.
Congress created the National Museum of the American Latino in December 2020. Its mission is to tell the stories of U.S. Latinos as part of the country’s history, and its work already includes exhibitions and educational programs.
When will the permanent museum open?
The Smithsonian’s site announcement does not give an opening date, renovation schedule or project budget. Until one is published, treat any year you see elsewhere as speculation.
The building is open this summer, but that is not the museum
The Arts and Industries Building is open from June 16 to September 7, 2026 for programming tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary. That seasonal access is separate from the future Latino museum and is not its grand opening. Current Arts and Industries visitor information.
Where you can see the museum’s work now
You do not have to wait for the permanent building to experience the museum’s exhibitions. The museum says that while it does not yet have its own building, it offers exhibitions and programs in the Molina Family Latino Gallery and the General Motors Learning Lounge inside the National Museum of American History.
The gallery currently presents ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa, listed as on view through 2028. Published hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except December 25, with a reminder to confirm hours before visiting. The visitor page also links to a gallery map and accessibility information. Plan a gallery visit.
The two locations should not be confused: the Molina gallery is the current exhibition space, while the Arts and Industries Building is the selected permanent home.
What to watch for next
For more Washington DC museums, openings and plans, see things to do in Washington DC this month and the latest DC Spot things-to-do guides.
Frequently asked questions about the National Museum of the American Latino
Is the National Museum of the American Latino open?
Its permanent museum is not open. Visitors can see its current exhibition, ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa, at the Molina Family Latino Gallery inside the National Museum of American History.
Where will the National Museum of the American Latino be located?
The Smithsonian Board of Regents designated the Arts and Industries Building at 900 Jefferson Drive SW on the National Mall as the permanent site on August 31, 2026.
Is the new location on the National Mall?
Yes. The Arts and Industries Building sits on the National Mall in Washington DC, next to the Smithsonian Castle.
Has the Smithsonian announced an opening year?
No. The August 31, 2026 site-selection statement gives no opening date, renovation schedule or budget.
What happened to the Tidal Basin site?
The August 31, 2026 designation supplants the Board of Regents’ October 2022 recommendation, which had centered on a Tidal Basin site requiring congressional approval.
Can I visit the Arts and Industries Building now?
The building is open June 16 through September 7, 2026 for programming tied to the country’s 250th anniversary. That seasonal opening is separate from the future Latino museum.
Feature image courtesy Fvanhoof via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0, cropped. It shows the existing Arts and Industries Building, not a design for the future museum.
Last updated September 1, 2026. The site designation was checked against the Smithsonian’s August 31, 2026 statement. Building history and the temporary summer opening were checked against the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building page. Gallery hours and the current exhibition were checked against the museum’s visitor page. Opening year, renovation schedule and budget have not been announced.
