This beloved institution, founded 40 years ago by visionary artist and educator Raphael Montanez Ortiz and a concerned coalition of parents, educators, artists, and activists who noted that mainstream museums largely ignored Latino artists, is steadfast in its commitment of celebrating, interpreting and promoting Caribbean and Latino art culture while providing an educational forum offering an enhanced understanding of its rich and colorful contribution to North America – historically and today. A cornerstone of El Barrio and a truly valuable New York City resource, its colorful, authentic and exotic collection of over 6,500 intriguing objects and artifacts is rooted in works by the amazing Puerto Rican artists of their founding community and spans over 800 years of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino art history. Its permanent collections include an excellent representation of graphics – Puerto Rican, Nuyorican, Mexican, and Chicano fine prints – and over 400 pre-Columbian objects, the majority of which are Taíno pan-Caribbean, primarily ceramic and stone objects from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. El Museo also showcases “Popular Traditions” pieces, including Santos de palo and other devotional arts from the Santería, Candomblé and Orisha worship traditions, more than 80 masks (primarily from Mexico and Guatemala) and myriad objects associated with the celebration of Día de los Muertos (over 500 pieces in total). While in the area, you can’t help but be enchanted by local colors and rhythms – El Museo offers wonderful “Around the Block” walking tours, an absolutely immersive, sensory-rich exploration of popular neighborhood locations- if you’ve saved room for lunch, plenty of delightful authentic options will appeal to the foodies in your group!