Hispanic Heritage Month was created through legislative efforts starting as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. It was established by legislation sponsored by Rep. George Brown Jr. of Los Angeles and others, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. The week was expanded to a month-long observance in 1988 through legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban Torres and amended by Senator Paul Simon, which was then signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. The first National Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation was issued by President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
Key figures in its creation:
- Rep. George Brown Jr. (sponsored the original week in 1968)
- Rep. Esteban Torres (proposed expanding the week to a month in 1988)
- President Lyndon Johnson (signed the week into law)
- President Ronald Reagan (signed the expansion to a month into law)
- President George H.W. Bush (issued the first month-long proclamation)
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15, recognizing the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries and the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States.
