Celebrate Latin American & Hispanic Heritage in DC

Art Museum of the Americas

Just off the National Mall, the Art Museum of the Americas (AMA) is a lesser-known gem and the oldest museum in the U.S. dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Caribbean art. Part of the Organization of American States (an international body founded in 1890 to promote democracy, peace and solidarity among its 35 member countries), AMA was once the residence of its secretary general and still features elegant neoclassical architecture.
 

Today, the museum hosts rotating exhibitions, film screenings and artist talks that explore themes of social justice, identity and cultural exchange. With a guided tour, visitors can also access a hidden treasure beneath the building: Roots of Peace, a massive underground mural painted more than 50 years ago by Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró. It's nearly as long as the Washington Monument is tall.

The National Museum of American History is home to the Molina Family Latino Gallery, the first step toward the newest Smithsonian museum: The National Museum of the American Latino. While plans for the full museum are still in development, the gallery is open to the public and currently features ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States. The bilingual exhibition explores Latino and Latina perspectives, highlighting stories often excluded from mainstream narratives of U.S. history.

National Museum of American History

Another fan-favorite exhibit at the National Museum of American History, Entertainment Nation, is fully bilingual, with Spanish-language translations right alongside English-language copy. The colorful multimedia gallery dives into the history of film, television and pop culture in the construction of U.S. history and identity.  

Are visual arts more your style? Go to the National Gallery of Art and take a self-guided Tour of Latinx Artists.

Gala Hispanic Theatre

Anchoring the historically Latino neighborhood of Columbia Heights is GALA Hispanic Theatre, which puts on plays in Spanish and bilingual formats. With programming that covers both classic and cutting-edge shows, GALA plays a vital role in the District’s performing arts scene. Youth programs, film festivals and other special events celebrate the artistic traditions of Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world.  

Tucked between storefronts on 4th Street NE, La Cosecha is more than a marketplace. It’s a gathering place where food, art and community come together to create buenas ondas every day of the week. Latin American restaurants like Serenata, Apapacho Taqueria and Café Unido ensure that there are culinary options from morning coffee to late-night cocktails. Leave with South American wines from Grand Cata, flowers from Latina-owned Flor Del Soul or chocolates from Arcay.  

Several nights a week, La Cosecha comes alive with dancing to live music and DJ sets ripe for salsa, tango and other Latin styles. The energy carries into other events and programming, including workshops, classes, trivia nights and more.
 

Cuba Libre

In Washington, DC, you'll find low-key jazz sets, packed dance floors and everything in between. Bossa Bistro in Adams Morgan and Mercy Me in Foggy Bottom regularly host live Brazilian bossa nova performances. At Cuba Libre in Penn Quarter, guests can enjoy salsa and bachata nights with live bands. Other late-night dancing spots include Casta’s Rum Bar or clubs like Cafe Citron and Public Bar Live. With such a stacked lineup of music venues, it’s easy to find Latin artists at venues like 9:30 Club and Howard Theatre – reggaetón, cumbia, Latin pop, indie rock, you name it.

Explore more places to dance in DC.

Mexican Cultural Institute

Located in a historic mansion on 16th Street NW, the Mexican Cultural Institute is a shining example of how DC’s cultural institutions share their countries’ traditions year-round through accessible (often free) public programming. The building is a work of art, featuring ornate architectural details, mosaic tiles and striking murals by artist Roberto Cueva del Río. Inside, rotating exhibitions, culinary workshops, film screenings, concerts and lectures showcase Mexico’s rich traditions, past and present. 

DC’s international identity is amplified by the presence of more than 20 Latin American embassies. Many of them open their doors for public events throughout the year, including concerts, film screenings, panels and art exhibitions. In May, the calendar is especially packed thanks to Passport DC, which presents unique opportunities to explore Hispanic cultures firsthand, from architecture and food to fashion and performing arts.  

Learn more about DC’s 170+ embassies.

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While exploring DC’s neighborhoods, it’s easy to see the impact of Latin American and Hispanic culture through the city’s street art. Several murals across the District reflect this legacy, including: 
 

• Alma Indigena (Indigenous Soul), created by artist Victor Quinonez in 2021, is inspired by the photography of Diego Huerta and the people of the western Mexican state Jalisco. It's located in Georgetown at the intersection of Wisconsin and Q Streets.
• Mural Un Pueblo Sin Murales (A People Without Murals are a Demuralized People), created originally by artists Felipe Martinez, Carlos Salozar, Carlos Arrien and Juan Pineda in 1977, can be found on the side wall of Kogibow Bakery in Adams Morgan.
• My Culture, Mi Gente, by artist Joel Bergner, can be found across from the Columbia Heights Metro Station.