From early Spanish colonialism to modern day civil rights struggles, the timeline of Hispanic and Latino history in the US is a rich one. Hispanic Heritage Month—September 15 to October 15—is dedicated to the history, culture, and heritage grounded in Latin America. It began as Hispanic Week in 1968 and has since evolved into a 30-day celebration. Why does it start in the middle of the month? September 15 sees the first of a series of independence days in several Latin American countries—El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. They are followed by Mexico, Chile, and Belize, which mark theirs on September 16, 18, and 21, respectively.

Pictured here are the ruins of the mission church at Quarai in New Mexico, completed in 1632 under the direction of Spanish Franciscan friars. It is one of the three Spanish mission sites that form the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Visiting the ruins is a great way to participate in Hispanic Heritage Month.