Riverton Museum is proud to announce the opening of Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Project, 1942–1964, a compelling exhibition that sheds light on a little-known chapter of American history. The exhibition will be on view at the museum from October 1 through March 31.
Through six interpretive posters featuring historic photographs by Leonard Nadal, Bittersweet Harvest explores the Bracero Program, which from 1942 to 1964 brought millions of Mexican laborers to the United States. Launched during World War II to address labor shortages, the program made significant contributions to American agriculture and industry, while also raising complex questions about immigration, labor rights, and cultural exchange.
“This exhibition offers an important opportunity to reflect on the contributions and experiences of Mexican workers whose labor supported the nation during a critical period,” said site manager April Peregoy. “The story of the Bracero Program is as relevant today as it was decades ago, inviting us to consider ongoing conversations about migration, labor, and identity.”
Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program was organized by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The exhibition received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
