From September 15 through October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Visit Milwaukee Public Museum to dive into the history and traditions of Hispanic and Latino cultures through interactive programs with our educators and docents!
Bonus Onsite Learning
MPM Educators will be on the exhibit floors most Wednesdays-Fridays to engage visitors in additional learning opportunities about the following topics, based on daily availabilities:
Milwaukee Latino History Timeline
Latinos are one of the largest cultural groups to call Milwaukee home and have a rich history throughout Wisconsin. Take a look back at 150 years of Latino history and how the communities continue to shape the city.
Heritage in Music
Learn about some instruments commonly created throughout the Americas and the Caribbean, and try some out for yourself!
Zelia Nuttall: Archive Adventurer
Discover the life of Mexican-American archaeologist and anthropologist Zelia Nuttall, and through her work, immerse yourself in the world of ancient Mexican civilizations!
Community Science: Monarch Migration
Monarch butterflies are one of the most recognizable butterfly species across Noth America. Learn about what makes them unique through art and science!
Chocolate Cart
Explore the science and cultural significance of chocolate in the Americas throughout history.
Additional Resources
Hispanic Heritage Month Reading List
Want to learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month? Check out our MPM Educators curated booklist for recommended reading!
Collections and Exhibits
Guatemalan Marketplace
Across from the elevators on the Third Floor, visitors can explore a life-size diorama of a recreation of the Merced Market in Antigua, Guatemala during the mid-20th century. The Spanish erected a church there in the 18th century which suffered damage from repeated earthquakes through the centuries. You can see the fallen and broken architectural features in the background and foreground of the diorama.
The Kʼicheʼ Maya of the southern highlands visited the market for staple items such as beans, corn, chili peppers, rice, and bananas. While the market has moved to another location in Antigua, many of the items depicted here are still sold nearby.
Zingg-Bennett Tarahumara Collection
Robert Zingg and Wendell Bennett were graduate students at the University of Chicago when they led an anthropological expedition to study the Tarahumara in Chihuahua, Mexico for nine months in 1930-31. The expedition was one of the first modern studies of remote indigenous groups in Mexico, and the work published from their studies is one of the few on a culture of northern Mexico. The collection has about 400 items, ranging from basic clothing and housewares to objects used for dances and ceremonies. It is one of the earliest, most comprehensive, and largest Tarahumara collections in the United States. Some of these items can be seen in the Mexican Courtyard on the Third Floor.