Latino History from Lancaster County to the Smithsonian
- January 29, 2026
- Tec Centro, 57 Laurel Str., Lancaster, PA
- 5:30pm Reception | 6pm Panel
- FREE | Registration Required
From food, sports, and the arts to business, politics, and education, Latinos have influenced every aspect of life in America and in Lancaster County. In Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Institution is working to build a new museum, the National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL), to honor this history. On Thursday, January 29th, LancasterHistory will host curators from NMAL to share information about their museum alongside the work of local scholars and community groups who have been serving the Latino community and preserving its history locally for many years. In this panel discussion, we will explore the contributions of Latinos to the history and culture of Lancaster County and discuss the importance of including Latino history in museums and historical narratives.

The panel will feature Amanda Elena Brito and Robin Morey of the National Museum of the American Latino, Dr. Ivette Guzman-Zavala and Dr. John Hinshaw of Lebanon Valley College, and Ramona Rivera Navedo of Lancaster County. The panel will be in English and Spanish.
This panel is presented in collaboration with:
- SACA is a community organization that uplifts and restores marginalized communities through human, economic, and social services, while supporting cultural identities.
- Crispus Attucks Community Center’s Young Professionals of Color Network is a free member collective where young BIPOC professionals can network and engage in conversation on social and civic issues.
- Mennonite Life shares items and stories featuring the diverse lived experiences and faith values of Lancaster Mennonites and interrelated communities. Mennonite Life stewards a research library, permanent museum collection, and family friendly experiences at the 1719 Museum and Biblical Tabernacle Experience.
- The National Museum of the American Latino is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum honors the dreams, challenges, and triumphs of U.S. Latinos, elevating those stories within the nation’s narrative.
Information & Registration
The panel will begin at 6pm and will be preceded by a reception at 5:30pm at Tec Centro, 57 Laurel St, Lancaster, PA. Parking is available in a large lot at the facility. In case of bad weather, the panel will be conducted virtually. This program is free and open to the public, but does require registration to guarantee space. To register, please click here or call 717.392.4633, ext. 100 to register over the phone.
Featured image photographs of Ramona Navedo’s paternal grandfather (left) and her maternal grandmother (right). Photos courtesy of Ramona Rivera Navedo.
Historia Latina del Condado de Lancaster al Smithsonian
Desde comida, deportes y las artes hasta los negocios, política y educación, los latinos han influido en cada aspecto de la vida en Estados Unidos y en el Condado de Lancaster. En Washington, D.C., el Instituto Smithsoniano, trabaja para construir un nuevo museo, el Museo Nacional del Americano Latino (NMAL), para honrar esta historia. El jueves 29 de enero, LancasterHistory acogerá a conservadores del NMAL para compartir información sobre su museo junto con el trabajo de académicos y grupos comunitarios locales que han servido la comunidad latina y preservado su historia localmente durante muchos años. En este panel, exploraremos las contribuciones de latinos a la historia y cultura del Condado de Lancaster y debatiremos la importancia de incluir historia latina en museos y relatos históricos.
En el panel participarán Amanda Elena Brito y Robin Morey del Museo Nacional del Americano Latino, la Dra. Ivette Guzmán-Zavala y el Dr. John Hinshaw del Lebanon Valley College, y Ramona Rivera Navedo del Condado de Lancaster. El panel se desarrollará en inglés y español.
Este panel se presenta en colaboración con:
- SACA es una organización comunitaria que eleva y restaura comunidades marginadas a través de servicios humanos, económicos y sociales, al tiempo que apoya las identidades culturales.
- Crispus Attucks Community Center’s Young Professionals of Color Network es un colectivo de miembros gratuito donde los jóvenes profesionales BIPOC pueden hacer contactos y debatir sobre cuestiones sociales y cívicas.
- Mennonite Life comparte artículos e historias que muestran las diversas experiencias vividas y los valores de fe de los menonitas de Lancaster y las comunidades interrelacionadas. Mennonite Life administra una biblioteca de investigación, una colección permanente de museos y experiencias familiares en el Museo 1719 y la Experiencia del Tabernáculo Bíblico.
- El Museo Nacional del Americano Latino forma parte del Instituto Smithsoniano. El museo rinde homenaje a los sueños, retos y triunfos de los latinos de EE.UU., elevando esas historias dentro de la narrativa de la nación.
Información e inscripción
El panel comenzará a las 6pm y será precedido por una recepción a las 5:30pm en Tec Centro, 57 Laurel St, Lancaster, PA. Se puede aparcar en un amplio aparcamiento de las instalaciones. En caso de mal tiempo, el panel se realizará virtualmente. Este programa es gratuito y abierto al público, pero requiere inscripción para garantizar el espacio. Para inscribirse, haga clic aquí o llame al 717.392.4633, ext. 100 para inscribirse por teléfono.
Fotografías destacadas del abuelo paterno de Ramona Navedo (izquierda) y de su abuela materna (derecha). Fotos cortesía de Ramona Rivera Navedo.
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