Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of Hispanic history
and culture and recognizes the contributions of Hispanic Americans, which includes people whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
This celebration coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations. It begins on September 15th, which coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, who declared their independence from Spain on September 15, 1821.
Resources:
“Hispanic Heritage Month.” National Museum of the American Latino. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://latino.si.edu/learn/teaching-and-learning-resources/hispanic-heritage-month-resources/hispanic-heritage-month.
History.com Editors. “Hispanic Heritage Month ‑ Origins & Facts.” History.com, September 11, 2020. https://www.history.com/topics/hispanic-history/hispanic-heritage-month.
This is just a few of the many notable Hispanic and Latino American people.
List of Latin Americans - Wikipedia
| September 16, 1810 | Mexico declared its independence from Spain |
| September 18, 1810 | Chile declared its independence from Spain |
| September 15, 1821 | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua declared their independence from Spain |
| June 1968 | Hispanic Heritage Week was introduced by California Congressman George E. Brown |
| September 15, 1968 | President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill designating the week of September 15 as "National Hispanic Heritage Week |
| September 21, 1981 | Belize declared its independence from Great Britain |
| 1987 | Congressman Esteban Torres proposed a month-long celebration |
| August 17, 1988 | President Ronald Reagan extended Hispanic Heritage Week to a month-long celebration |
| September 14, 1989 | President George H.W. Bush became the first president to declare September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month |
Many of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
