Preserving Latino Architecture

Maestrapeace Mural, image courtesy of womenbuilding.org

 
Preserving Latino Architecture

by Sweiskloss
October 2, 2025
Up and down the coast of California, sites showcasing Hispanic heritage are in danger of disappearing. Latinos in Heritage Conservation, a nonprofit organization committed to the “preservation of Latinx places, stories and heritage,” compiled a list of sites around the country that reveal a rich history, cultural influences and architectural significance, and are in danger of destruction.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15- October 15), we are showcasing the California landmarks on the list.

The Silver Platter, Los Angeles
This Westlake bar has been “a safe haven for Latinx and LGBTQ+ community members” since 1963 but is at risk for demolition amid plans to redevelop the site as a mixed-use seven-story building. The historic brick building was built in 1922, and its iconic neon sign is famous in the neighborhood – so much so, that LA Conservancy is working with the council and Museum of Neon Art to preserve the Art Deco sign. Rising rents, gentrification, and redevelopment threaten this vibrant gathering spot on the corner of 7th Street and Rampart Avenue. The owners are petitioning the city to relocate the establishment in the same district so that they can continue to serve their diverse clientele. “It is the oldest extant Latinx LGBTQ+ nightlife space in the city and a rare Borderlands space where immigrant, queer, and trans Latinx communities have built belonging, cultural expression and resistance” (latinoheritage.us).

MACSA Youth Center, San Jose
The former site of the Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) was destroyed by a fire this summer. Built in 1995, the postmodern building had featured pre-Columbian motifs and a pyramid-like shape to reflect the community’s indigenous cultural heritage. As portions of the building remain intact, such as the gym and iconic main entrance, community members are spearheading efforts to rebuild MACSA as a vibrant mixed-use center that would offer after school programs and family support services, provide workforce training programs and foster leadership and creativity. “The facility holds historical and cultural significance as a symbol of innovation, hope and resilience,” explains Víctor Vasquez, co-executive director of SOMOR Mayfair, who, along with the Alum Rock Union School District, the School of Arts and Culture, and Si Se Puede Collective, are advocating for the preservation plans.

Murales de la Calle 24, San Francisco
Colorful, creative and descriptive, the 690+ murals adorning Calle 24 Latino Cultural District in San Francisco’s Mission District are an integral part of city’s rich Latino heritage and broader mural culture. Since the 1970’s, 24th Street, Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley have been known for their public art scene and comprise the largest public art gallery in the county (calle24sf.org). The murals reflect the community’s history, identity and activism. Notable works by artists such as Juan Alicia, Roberto Hernandez and Malaquias Montoya depict themes including labor, immigration and women’s roles. Wandering through the area is a feast for the eyes. Maestrapeace Mural (meaning “Woman teacher of peace”) on the Women’s Building, is one of the more famous murals and is a multi-generational collaboration between seven female Bay Area artists. Painted in 1944 across two walls and standing five stories tall, the mural is a “visual testament to the courageous contributions of women through time and around the world” (womenbuilding.org), with images ranging from female Nobel Peace Prize winner Menchu to the Aztec Godess of the Moon. Sadly, environmental exposure, gentrification and vandalism threaten these murals.

Grand Performance Mural, Oakland
Driving along the underpass of I-580 freeway in Oakland, you can’t miss the 140-foot-long Grand Performance Mural. Painted by Daniel Galvez, Keith Sklar and other community artists in 1984, the mural celebrates the city’s “multicultural heritage through portraits of African America, Asian, Native, Latinx and white cultural figures” (latinoheritage.us). The colorful mural celebrates the spirit and unity of the diverse community. Environmental pollution and aging threaten the mural’s vibrancy, and Galvez and local artists are leading restoration efforts.
Outside of California, other notable sites on the list include: Ruidosa, Texas’ El Corazon Sagrado de la Iglesia de Jesus, an historic adobe church built in 1915 for Mexican farming communities along the Rio Grande; the Elgin Mexican Cemetery in Texas, that dates back to the early 20th century and features handmade markers that embody Mexican folk traditions; Plaza del Cerro in Chimay, New Mexico, founded in 1730 and one of the best surviving examples of a Spanish Colonial plaza in the Southwest with adobe structures and painted altar depicting cultural traditions like weaving, tin smithing and wood carving. To see a full list of the “2025 Endangered Latinx Landmarks” visit https://latinos-hc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=55777e7444874254b215e2bb4a1f1565.
 
Laura McMahon