when was hispanic heritage month first celebrated in the us

Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States was first celebrated as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. It was established by legislation sponsored by Rep. George Brown Jr. and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The celebration originally lasted one week including September 15 and 16. In 1988, the observance was expanded from a week to a month (September 15 to October 15) by legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban Torres and Senator Paul Simon, and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. The first National Hispanic Heritage Month was proclaimed by President George H. W. Bush on September 14, 1989.