On September 17, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the National Hispanic Heritage Week Bill, which authorized the President to designate the week of September 15 as “National Hispanic Heritage Week,” which was first observed in 1968. In 1988, President Ronald W. Reagan expanded the recognition period by signing into law the creation of National Hispanic Heritage Month. U.S. Rep. Esteban Torres, a proponent of the bill, noted that supporters “want the American people to learn of our heritage. We want the public to know that we share a legacy with the rest of the country, a legacy that includes artists, writers, Olympic champions, and leaders in business, government, cinema, and science.” 

The City of Savannah is honored to join the federal government and citizens throughout the country in recognizing September 15, 2022, through October 15, 2022, as National Hispanic Heritage Month. Furthermore, the City of Savannah honors and celebrates the contributions of Hispanic Americans not only in our history across the nation, but also celebrates and recognizes the contributions of Hispanic Americans who currently serve our communities here in Savannah including the efforts of the H.O.L.A taskforce to engage and involve the Hispanic community through education and making resources available. The City of Savannah, in its continued effort for equity and diversity, remains dedicated to providing resources for Spanish-speaking communities.