Our article UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States: Unique Prehistoric and Indigenous Cultural Legacies explains that the United States holds 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including six cultural sites that highlight remarkable prehistoric and Indigenous legacies. These sites—Poverty Point, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Cahokia Mounds, Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, and Taos Pueblo—all reveal complex ancient societies with advanced architecture, astronomy, trade networks, and long-standing cultural traditions. The piece Emblematic NPS Hispanic Heritage Sites in the U.S. spans more than five centuries, beginning with early Spanish exploration and settlement across Florida, the South, the Southwest, and California. The National Park Service preserves key sites reflecting this legacy, including Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas in Florida, the San Antonio Missions in Texas, the massive fortifications of San Juan in Puerto Rico, the Salinas Pueblo Missions in New Mexico, and the Cabrillo National Monument in California. These locations illustrate the enduring cultural, religious, and military influence of Hispanic communities, whose presence continues to enrich the nation today.
We also highlighted the resilience of the Uros in Did you know? The Floating World of the Uros: Life on Lake Titicaca. High on Lake Titicaca, the Uros people live on human-made floating islands crafted from totora reeds, an ancient tradition rooted in autonomy, protection, and resilience. One of the Andes’ oldest ethnic groups, they use totora for homes, boats, food, and medicine, continually renewing their islands to keep them afloat. While tourism has become their main livelihood, it brings both opportunities and cultural pressures, and the pandemic exposed this vulnerability. Environmental threats and youth migration also pose challenges, yet the Uros persist—adapting ancestral knowledge to new realities while sustaining a unique floating way of life.
Our journey to the past continued with Skull Surgery in the Andes: The Inca Medical Marvel, which examines the Inca’s sophisticated medical practices. We explored trepanation, a skull surgery used to treat injuries, neurological disorders, and spiritual ailments. Their Hampicamayoc surgeons used precise scraping, cutting, and drilling techniques that avoided the brain membranes, resulting in survival rates of up to 80%. Their effective used of antiseptics, sedatives, and early anesthetics—derived from plants and fermented drinks—further increased success. Archaeological evidence of healed skulls and multiple surgeries shows extensive skill and care. Though long underestimated by Western scholars, Inca innovations reveal an advanced, empirical medical tradition that blended physical and spiritual healing.
We also recalled men and women who have shaped Latin America and contributed their talent and knowledge to building a better world. Our piece Enriching knowledge about Latinos and Latin America: Notable Women Fulbright and MacArthur Scholars highlights five women who earned both Fulbright and MacArthur awards and significantly advanced knowledge of Latin America and U.S. Latino communities. These women exemplify that impact: Heather Lechtman, who revealed the sophistication of ancient Andean metallurgy; Ruth Behar, who deepened understanding of memory, identity and diaspora; Anna Roosevelt, who transformed knowledge of Amazonian archaeology; Nora England, who revitalized Maya languages; and Martha Gonzalez, who advanced community empowerment through participatory, transnational music. Latin American Inventors Who Changed the World features Latin American inventors who transformed global science and technology through breakthroughs in engineering, medicine, chemistry, and space exploration. Mexican engineer Guillermo González Camarena, who built his first transmitter at 12, patented an early color TV system that influenced worldwide broadcasting and was later used by NASA. Juan Vucetich, a Croatian-born Argentine police officer, created the first fingerprint identification system, enabling the world’s first crime solved by fingerprints. Mexican chemist Luis Miramontes co-invented norethindrone, the basis of the first oral contraceptive, revolutionizing reproductive rights. Argentine surgeon René Favaloro pioneered coronary bypass surgery, now a lifesaving global standard. Peruvian scientist Pedro Paulet, an early rocket visionary, designed a liquid-fuel propulsion prototype that helped lay groundwork for modern astronautics.
Rock music, a genre born in the United States, soon spread across the world, and Latin America was no exception. In our article Rock en Español: Four Legendary Bands that Shaped Latin American’s Sound we showed just a glimpse of how rock music has evolved in the region. Rock en español reshaped Latin America’s musical identity by proving that rock in Spanish could be both authentic and influential. From cover bands to groundbreaking originals, groups like Soda Stereo, Maná, Aterciopelados, and Los Prisioneros fused global rock styles with local rhythms and social commentary. From Mexico to Colombia, Argentina and Chile, they addressed themes ranging from dictatorship and inequality to feminism, the environment, and existential reflection. Their impact transcended borders, opening the door for new artists and affirming that Latin American stories, languages, and cultures belong at the center of the global rock movement.
Latin America is ready to welcome visitors eager to experience it firsthand. Studying abroad in the region offers cultural connection, as well as academic enrichment, though financial barriers can make this difficult for younger students. That is why, in Funding Your Latin American Study Abroad Journey we delved into a few ways to get funding and highlighted affordable learning opportunities supported by diverse funding sources. Campus resources—such as university study abroad offices and Latin American student associations—help students explore programs and apply existing financial aid. Government scholarships like Fulbright and the Gilman Program expand access for students from varied backgrounds. Private organizations such as CIEE, FEA, AIFS, and API also play a major role. Together, these programs make immersive, heritage-rich Latin American study experiences in Latin America far more accessible.
Finally, we celebrated the Spanish language as an expression of cultural diversity in One Language, Many Voices: Examples of Cultural Diversity in the Spanish Language. Spanish is far from uniform; it reflects the diverse cultures, regions, and social contexts in which it is spoken. Everyday words—such as “bus,” “pacifier,” “pen,” “kite,” “glasses,” “blanket,” and “beer”—vary widely across Spain and Latin America. Examples include guagua, colectivo, and camión for “bus”; chupete and chupón for “pacifier”; boli, pluma, and esfero for “pen”; and chela or birra for “beer.” These variations reveal how language expresses identity and evolves continually, illustrating the richness and dynamism of the Spanish-speaking world. We also invite you to visit our December edition, which focuses on Spanish Expressions born from Religion, phrases that continue to shape how people across Latin America communicate, reflect, and relate to one another.
We hope this year’s pieces spark our readers’ curiosity to keep exploring Latin America’s many riches and contributions to our global culture.
