Founded in 1975 by Chicano artist Peter Rodriguez in the Mission District in San Francisco and relocated to the Fort Mason Center in 1982, The Mexican Museum is the oldest museum in the country focusing on Mexican, Mexican American, Latin American, and Chicano art.

 

The Mexican Museum is a member-supported, private 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation that has been awarded major funding from California Cultural and Historical Endowment, City and County of San Francisco, Millennium Partners, and other philanthropic supporters.

 

The museum is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, which allows the museum to present objects and exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institution, as well as to display artworks from its collection at the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. In 2018, The Mexican Museum closed its longtime galleries at the Fort Mason Center in anticipation of the opening of its new location at the Yerba Buena Gardens Arts District.

​

Currently, the museum is offering digital art exhibits on its website, as well as a virtual viewing of pieces from its art collection through augmented reality, in partnership with Google Arts and Culture, allowing visitors to experience museum exhibits directly from their mobile devices—which was particularly beneficial during the pandemic. The Mexican Museum has long been championed by San Francisco leaders such as former Mayor Willie Brown, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and numerous local government officials. Governor Newsom displayed 16 art pieces from the Mexican Museum’s collection in the office in the State Capitol.

 

Today, TMM has a new permanent home at 706 Mission Street, adjacent to the Contemporary Jewish Museum, across from the Museum of the African Diaspora, and near the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

 

The museum has reached thousands of visitors through its diverse exhibitions, educational programs, and outreach initiatives, creating meaningful connections and fostering a deeper understanding of Latino culture.

 

During the pandemic, TMM kept its outreach, online exhibits, and virtual arts programming, bringing culture and creativity to home residents, especially children, seniors, and vulnerable populations.

 

Today, TMM is undergoing a process of reconfiguration that will not only result in an expansion of its galleries, but also in a transformation of its curatorial concepts, reaching communities beyond its building promoting art and dignity.