Discover the Hispanic/Latinx History of New York City

Nearly 2.5 million people in New York City identify as Hispanic/Latinx—about 30 percent of the population. The history of this diverse group of New Yorkers goes back hundreds of years.

As part of NYRR’s celebration of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, this year we invited Inside Out Tours to give our staff a virtual tour of NYC’s Spanish and Latin American heritage, celebrating the history and contributions of Hispanic and Latin-American New Yorkers.

The tour begins in Lower Manhattan, where starting in the 16th century, Spanish and Latinx people played a key role in the exploration and establishment of what we now call New York.

It continues in Central and East Harlem, focusing on the cultural contributions of Latinx people including beautiful street art murals that celebrate Latin-American heritage, as well as iconic Latinx cultural and artistic institutions.

In the Bronx, where Hispanic/Latinx people make up the majority of the population, the tour discusses their impact on politics, the judiciary, and more.

Inside Out Tours is an NYC tour operator that provides virtual and in-person tours focusing on hidden history, architecture, team-building, and diversity and inclusion-themed experiences across NYC. Learn more and sign up for a tour here.

The TCS New York City Marathon course runs through Hispanic/Latinx neighborhoods citywide including East and Central Harlem, the Bronx, and more. This year's race is November 5. You can also check out Hispanic/Latinx historic and cultural sites on your next NYC run, wherever and whenever that may be!

We are also celebrating LGBT History Month this October. Check out our blog post about LGBT Historic Sites’ tour of the West Village.