Museo Alameda

Description:

• Inaugurated in April of 2007, the Museo Alameda is the nation's largest museum celebrating Latino culture. It has 20,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space divided up into 11 galleries. Its location in San Antonio is ideal in that the majority of the city's population is Hispanic. Though the Museo doesn't have a permanent collection, it has many resources to lean on, including a close association with the Smithsonian Institute. The exhibits, each running about 6 months, seek to place in view the Latino experience in America. They are meant to explore themes such as the various things that America represents for Latinos, and what the old homeland, be it Mexico or another country, comes to signify, as well. Such a broad purpose embraces art and artifact, art and history, to piece together its narrative on Latino culture. It necessarily leans heavily on the expertise of the curators who will create these exhibitions. The building proper is an attractive addition to the area around Market Square. It injects color and bold modern lines. The main decorative feature is some elaborate stainless steel panels that variously bring to mind the wrought iron work of colonial Latin America and the humble decorative practice of cutting designs into folded paper (papel picado).

• © Frommer's 2012