NEW AMERICANS MUSEUM INC
The New Americans Museum was founded in 2001 by successful entrepreneur and philanthropist Deborah Szekely to address the need for a national and regional institution to embrace our country’s immigrant past, present and future. The Museum opened in its current location in 2008 and temporarily suspended programming in 2010 during the recession. With new leadership, a fresh approach to exhibitions and a commitment to embrace the latest technology, we are proud of our Reawakening in January 2015. More than 40 million foreign-born people currently reside in the United States. The foreign-born share of the U.S. population has more than doubled since the 1960s. Today’s immigrants come from countries of origin that are much more diverse than 50 years ago. San Diego is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse places in the nation, with more than 100 different languages spoken. The New Americans Museum captures, explains and celebrates the story of who we are now through educational and cultural programs that illuminate immigrant experiences. NAM’s mission is to be a spark for honoring and celebrating America’s rich diversity and the strength it brings to our communities. The heart of this work is in the research, collection, preservation and presentation of the experiences of new immigrants. The New Americans Museum gives a human face to today’s immigrant population by sharing their narratives. Their personal – sometimes difficult, but always inspiring — stories help us understand the profound and positive contributions these new Americans make to our civic, economic and artistic arenas. Our focus is immigration after World War II. We aim to foster public awareness of the values and strengths that immigrants bring to our nation – their new energy, their cultural and family values, their ideas and their hard work. The Museum helps immigrant children to understand and value their inheritance. The Museum strives to promote understanding and interaction between newcomers and native-born Americans, while helping our newest citizens connect and prosper in their new homeland. The New Americans Museum’s home is in the historic NTC at Liberty Station in San Diego, a thriving arts and culture district. We are the region’s only museum to celebrate immigration, a driving theme that has shaped our country from its inception.
