National Hispanic Heritage Month: Paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.

National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins each year on Sept. 15, celebrates U.S. Latinos, their culture and their history. Started in 1968 by Congress as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was expanded to a month in 1988. The celebration begins in the middle rather than the start of September because it coincides with national independence days in several Latin American countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate theirs on Sept. 15, followed by Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept. 21.

Your family may not be able to explore the lush landscapes and majestic monuments of Latin America, but taking a Zoom tour may just be the next best option. You can share the screen while viewing a self-guided digital tour of a museum, park, or cultural site, or book a hosted Zoom tour.

Here are some suggestions:

• Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum
• Museum of Latin American Art
• Google Arts & Culture Latino Cultures in the US
  • Virtual Tours
• Frida Kahlo Museum