Latinos have left an indelible mark on the history of the United States and it is time to “tell their history well” and honor their legacy, Midy Aponte, the interim director of the American Latino Heritage Fund, said Tuesday.

Eva Longoria and a San Francisco art museum chief are two of the key figures in the bid to establish a new museum on the Mall devoted to the history and culture of American Latinos but they may be running into an uphill battle.

Some Latino star power will lead the effort to establish the Smithsonian American Latino Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian American Latino Museum could soon have a permanent home. That's because members of Congress introduced bipartisan legislation Tuesday to authorize a designated location for it, the Smithsonian's Arts Industries building on the National Mall.

Latinos' contributions to the development, welfare and culture of this country have been largely overlooked, and are not properly reflected in our nation's museums. But that could soon change with the creation of a museum dedicated to the diverse contributions of Latinos in America.

With the nation’s Latino population booming and now the country’s largest minority group, the Obama administration’s top Hispanic official is concerned that the federal government is not giving enough attention to Hispanic history and culture.