History, Dates, & Foundations
What are the exact start and end dates of National hispanic heritage Month?
September 15 to October 15
Which famous labor organizer and activist co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later UFW) alongside Dolores Huerta?
César Chávez.
Who was the first Hispanic woman in space, flying aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1993?
Dr. Ellen Ochoa
Which Mexican painter is world-famous for her iconic self-portraits exploring identity, pain, and Mexican folk culture?
Frida Kahlo
What major man-made engineering miracle in Central America connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean?
The Panama Canal
Why does Hispanic Heritage month begin on September 15th rather than the first of the month?
It coincides with the national independence anniversaries of five Latin American countires: Cosa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
What famous two-word Spanish motto meaning "Yes, it can be done!" was coined by Dolores Huerta during farmworker protest movements?
"¡Sí, se puede!"
Who was the first Hispanic male astronaut in space, flying on six space shuttle missions starting in 1986?
Franklin Chang-Díaz (from Costa Rica)
Name the famous husband of Frida Kahlo who was a renowned Mexican muralist known for large public artworks.
Diego Rivera
What is the legal citizenship status of individuals born in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico?
They are natural-born U.S. citizens.
What treaty signed in 1848 ended the Mexican-American War and transferred over 500,000 square miles of territory to the United States?
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Which Mexican American journalist and activist was killed while covering the Chicano Moratorium anti-war protest in Los Angeles in 1970?
Ruben Salazar
Which Hispanic engineer led NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as director during major Mars rover landings?
Dr. Charles Elachi
Who was the legendary "Queen of Tejano Music" whose 1994 album Amor Prohibido became one of the best-selling Latin albums of all time?
Selena Quintanilla
What is the capital city of Argentina, known as the birthplace of the Tango?
Buenos Aires
What key civil rights milestone in 1954 saw the U.S. Supreme Court rule that Mexican Americans had equal protection under the 14th Amendment?
Hernandez v. Texas
Who served as the Cabinet Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Mayor of San Antonio, Texas?
Julián Castro
What Mexican inventor created an early color television transmission system in 1940 at just 22 years old?
Guillermo González Camarena
What EGOT-winning Puerto Rican actress, singer, and dancer is famous for her role as Anita in the 1961 film West Side Story?
Rita Moreno
What traditional rice dish originating in Valencia, Spain, features saffron, vegetables, and seafood or meat?
Paella
What landmark 1974 Supreme Court case established that public schools must provide language support for non-English-speaking students?
Lau v. Nichols
What female labor leader led the 1938 San Antonio pecan shellers' strike, one of the largest labor strikes in Texas history?
Emma Tenayuca
Which Hispanic computer scientist and executive was instrumental in the early development of microprocessors and personal computing?
Mark Dean (or Hector de J. Ruiz)
Which Mexican filmmaker won Academy Awards for Best Director for both Birdman and The Revenant?
Alejandro González Iñárritu
What high-altitude mountain range runs along the entire western coast of South America?
The Andes Mountains