El Museo Latino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Polish Home
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View from 25th Street
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 Location in Nebraska
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| Location | 4701 S. 25th Street, Omaha, Nebraska |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000793 |
| Added to NRHP | November 16, 2015 |
El Museo Latino is a cool museum in South Omaha, Nebraska. It shows off amazing art and tells the stories of Latino and Hispanic history. You can find it at 4701 South 25th Street.
It was started in 1993 by Magdalena García. This museum was the very first place in the Midwest to focus on Latino art and culture!
Contents
The Museum's Story
How El Museo Latino Began
Magdalena Garcia, who grew up in Mexico City and moved to Omaha when she was nine, had a big dream. She worked in other jobs first, but then decided she wanted to work with art and museums. She studied art at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Later, she learned about running museums at Syracuse University.
After her studies, she came back to Omaha. In 1993, she opened El Museo Latino in a building called the Livestock Exchange Building.
The Museum's Home
In 1997, the museum moved to its current home. This building used to be called the Polish Home. Before that, it was a school called South Central School, built in 1887.
In 1916, the school building was mostly rebuilt. It became a one-story building shaped like a 'U' with a cool Romanesque Revival style. The school closed in 1930, and a group called the American Legion took over the building.
They couldn't afford to keep it, so in 1936, they sold it to the Polish Home. This was a social group for the many Polish immigrants in South Omaha. The Polish Home used the building for a library and for teaching Polish language classes. They also held fun events like dances, wedding parties, and even political meetings there. The Polish Home owned the building until 1998, when El Museo Latino bought it.
In 2015, the museum's building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed under its old name, "Polish Home."
What You Can See and Do
Exhibits and Learning
El Museo Latino has many exhibits about Latino and Hispanic art and history. They offer lots of educational programs for kids from kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. They also have programs for older students and adults.
These programs include interesting talks, slide shows, and films. You can also take art classes, workshops, and even dance classes! The museum is a great place to learn about Latino studies in the Midwest.
Famous Art and Artists
Some cool exhibits at the museum have included one from the Smithsonian Institution. This exhibit was put together by the actor Edward James Olmos. You might also see works by famous artists like Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Photographers like David Bacon and painters like Terry Rosenberg have also shown their work here.
Special Events and Celebrations
El Museo Latino hosts special events throughout the year. They celebrate Cinco de Mayo with an annual brunch called an almuerzo. Hispanic Heritage Month in September features a special banquet.
They also have "Family Day" celebrations. You can watch amazing dance performances by the museum's own dance company, "CHOMARI" Ballet Folklorico Mexicano. Visiting artists also perform. The museum also organizes a yearly celebration for El Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). This includes a festival, special exhibits, and cultural events.
See also
