LANCASTER, PA – From food, sports, and the arts to business, politics, and education, Latinos have influenced every aspect of life in America and in Lancaster County. In Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Institution is working to build a new museum, the National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL), to honor this history. On Thursday, January 29th, LancasterHistory will host curators from NMAL to share information about their museum alongside the work of local scholars and community groups who have been serving the Latino community and preserving its history locally for many years. The panel will explore the contributions of Latinos to the history and culture of Lancaster County and discuss the importance of including Latino history in museums and historical narratives.

The panel will feature Amanda Elena Brito and Robin Morey of the National Museum of the American Latino, Dr. Ivette Guzman-Zavala and Dr. John Hinshaw of Lebanon Valley College, and Ramona Rivera Navedo of Lancaster County. The panel will be in English and Spanish.

“LancasterHistory is thrilled to partner on this event with such esteemed and committed community partners,” said Mabel Meigs Rosenheck, Director of Education and Exhibition Planning. “By bringing together national museum experts with local scholars and community organizations, we're creating an important conversation about how we preserve and share the stories that reflect the true diversity of our region.”

The panel is presented in collaboration with SACA, Crispus Attucks Community Center’s Young Professionals of Color Network, Mennonite Life, and The National Museum of the American Latino.

Information & Registration

The event, "Latino History from Lancaster County to the Smithsonian," will begin at 6pm and will be preceded by a reception at 5:30pm at Tec Centro, 57 Laurel St, Lancaster, PA. Parking is available in a large lot at the facility. In case of bad weather, the panel will be conducted virtually. This program is free and open to the public, but does require registration to guarantee a seat. For registration, please visit LancasterHistory's website or call 717.392.4633, ext. 100 to register over the phone.

About LancasterHistory
LancasterHistory is a community-based, not-for-profit organization established to educate the public on the history of Lancaster County and its place in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States, to advance the missions of regional historical organizations, and to promote the acquisition, preservation, and interpretation of resources representing the history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania within the broader context of state and national history, including the homes of 15th US President James Buchanan and Congressman Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith.