Smithsonian Closes In On Preferred Locations To Build Latino, Women’s Museums

The Smithsonian Institution’s long-awaited Latino and women’s museums could soon have a home, with the organization recently announcing it has selected two plots on the National Mall in Washington DC to build the facilities. 

The two sites—South Monument and Tidal Basin—both rest on currently undeveloped land, with the former located across from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture on Jefferson Drive SW, while the latter borders Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Maine Avenue SW, and Independence Avenue SW. 

Narrowing down its choices from more than 25 locations, the institution said it undertook an extensive analysis process, and is awaiting legislative action from authorities before making its final designations. 

According to The Art Newspaper, the two museums will be constructed using funds provided by the federal government and private donors, and while budgets have yet to be released to the public, it’s expected the two sites will exceed the US$540 million spent on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016. 

Together with the Latino and women’s museums, the public has been campaigning for future national institutions highlighting the LGBTQ+ and Asian Pacific American community as well. 

[via The Art Newspaper and Smithsonian Institution, cover image via Lunamarina | Dreamstime.com]