“¡Mira! Nuestra Arquitectura: An Architectural Journey”
An architectural history of the NHCC, in celebration of our 20th anniversary.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the History and Literary Arts program presents “¡Mira! Nuestra Arquitectura: An Architectural Journey,” an architectural history of the Center’s past, present and future. This exhibit consists of text, sketch drawings, blueprints, maps, and photographs exploring Hispanic/Latinx culture and heritage as expressed through the buildings and landscape of the Center. The exhibit shows the original design concept for the Center’s campus, the subsequent redesign, as well as the challenges and triumphs in building this prominent institution whose doors opened in 2000.

DID YOU KNOW…

• …the original design for the Center included an amphitheater?
• …each program has a uniquely designed building?
• …the El Gran Torreón contains a 4,000 square foot fresco, “Mundos de Mestizaje,” depicting thousands of years of Hispanic history?
• …the original design had the public parking lot situated on the south side of campus?
• …the Rio Grande served as an important influence on the original design of the campus?
• …the Center’s campus will soon have a Visitor’s Center?

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Para conmemorar el vigésimo aniversario del Centro Nacional de Cultura Hispana, el programa de historia y artes literarias presenta “¡Mira! Nuestra arquitectura: Un viaje arquitectónico,” una historia arquitectónica del pasado, del presente y del futuro del Centro. La exhibición consiste en texto, bosquejos, planos, mapas, y fotografías que exploran la cultura y la herencia hispanas/latinas expresadas en los edificios y los paisajes del Centro. La exhibición muestra el diseño conceptual original para el campus del Centro, y el cambio de diseño subsiguiente, además de los desafíos y los triunfos al construir esta institución prominente cuyas puertas abrieron en 2000.

¿SABÍA UD. QUE . . .

• …el diseño original del Centro incluía un anfiteatro?
• …cada programa tiene un edificio de diseño único?
• …el gran torreón del Centro contiene un fresco de 4.000 pies cuadrados, “Mundos de Mestizaje,” que representa miles de años de historia hispana?
• …en el diseño original el estacionamiento se ubicaba en el lado sur del campus?
• …el Río Grande servía como una influencia importante en el diseño original del campus?
• …el campus del Centro pronto tendrá un centro para visitantes?

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This will be the first exhibit in the Bosque Gallery Series. The New Bosque Gallery at National Hispanic Cultural Center will be 730 feet in length (roughly 2 ½ times the size of a football field).  This beautiful open-air gallery space runs along the Bosque Trail to the east of the Rio Grande just south of César Chávez and Dolores Huerta Avenues.

Bosque Gallery exhibitions will be mounted on the exterior wire fencing owned by the NHCC.  Exhibitions rotate between the key program areas, and will include topics supporting the NHCC’s Mission including History and Literary Arts, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts.  The Bosque Gallery exhibits will be accessible, bilingual, and inclusive. The Bosque Trail is highly trafficked with cyclists, joggers, and walkers.  These groups of visitors include families and individuals.

There are 31 re-printable panels (48 x 60 inches each) available for each exhibition. All panels will be hung on exterior fence facing the Bosque Trail. The panels are made from ALU-PANEL, a reusable thin polycarbonate metal substrate. The panels are reusable, meaning that the vinyl printing for each exhibit can be peeled off and the panels can be re-printed with each new project.  The panels have an anti-graffiti coating and can last for many years if handled properly.