Smithsonian Races to Finalize Site for National Latino Museum

The Smithsonian Institution board of regents is scheduled to meet on 31 August to discuss housing the National Museum of the American Latino inside the historic Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall in Washington, DC, according to reporting by Robin Pogrebin of The New York Times. Opening the museum in a pre-existing structure would allow the institution to bypass the need for congressional approval and sidestep a political battle with President Donald Trump’s administration.

History and Current Status of the Arts and Industries Building

Located between the Smithsonian Castle and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Arts and Industries Building was designed by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze and opened in 1881. As the second-oldest building on the National Mall behind the 1855 Castle, it hosted President James A. Garfield’s inaugural ball and opened months later as the United States’ first national museum. Collections gradually migrated to thematic museums throughout the 20th century, and the building closed to the public in 2004 after falling into disrepair, despite earning National Historic Landmark status in 1971. More than two decades of restoration work have faced funding hurdles, leading to sporadic openings for special events before an upcoming closure for further renovations set for 7 September.

Political Hurdles and Shortlist Re-entry

In 2022, the Arts and Industries Building appeared on a shortlist for both the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. Congress approved both projects in 2020 under Trump’s first term, but plans initially favored new construction. In May 2026, the women’s history museum site bill failed in the House of Representatives following last-minute legislative additions seeking to exclude trans women from programming and grant the president site override authority.

Meanwhile, the Latino museum faced scrutiny in 2023 over its exhibition ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States, which critics argued focused too heavily on European colonialism and US military interventions while underrepresenting opposition to left-wing authoritarians like Fidel Castro. In May, President Trump submitted a budget request to cancel funding for the physical Latino museum, proposing a roaming “Smithsonian Latino Center” instead.

Political Reactions and External Criticism

Republican critics have pushed back sharply against the potential Smithsonian maneuver. Writing in the Washington Examiner on 20 August, Mike Gonzalez stated that the institution “is trying to use a loophole to sneak in a building for a yet-to-be-built controversial museum that remains homeless,” characterizing the move as “an act of desperation by a museum complex beset with accusations of bias.” The Smithsonian Institution did not respond to requests for comment regarding the upcoming regents meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Smithsonian board of regents meeting?

The board of regents is scheduled to meet on 31 August to discuss potential housing for the National Museum of the American Latino.

Why is the Arts and Industries Building being considered?

Using the pre-existing building allows the Smithsonian to bypass the need for congressional approval and avoid political battles with the Trump administration.

When was the Arts and Industries Building constructed?

The building opened in 1881 and is the second-oldest structure on the National Mall after the Smithsonian Castle.