Smithsonian’s 1881 building, closed in 2004, gets new life after $55m restoration

The Smithsonian Board of Regents has officially selected the Arts and Industries Building as the site for the National Museum of the American Latino, concluding a prolonged discussion regarding its permanent home on the National Mall. Once renovated and modernized, this historic structure, which dates back to 1881, will eliminate the need for congressional approval for a new venue. Notably, the museum’s first preview space already opened in 2022.