The Art Museum of the Americas of the Organization of American States was established in 1976 by resolution of the OAS Permanent Council in tribute to the two-hundredth anniversary of the independence of the United States, host country of the OAS. The historic building housing the Museum was designed by noted architect Paul Cret in 1912 as the residence for the Secretaries General of the Organization of American States. It is Spanish colonial in style with white walls, iron grilles, a red tiled roof and a loggia decorated with richly colored tiles in patterns modeled after Aztec and Mayan legends. Today as a Museum, the building provides a warm and intimate atmosphere to enjoy art.

With its unique regional focus, the Art Museum of the Americas serves as an important repository for information on art from Latin America and the Caribbean. Dedicated to the arts, the Museum preserves, studies, and exhibits works by outstanding artists and carries out other activities of an educational nature which increase understanding and appreciation of these cultures. The museum's permanent collection of 20th-century Latin American and Caribbean art is one of the most important collections of its kind in the United States. The museum also maintains a regular schedule of special Latin American art exhibits and related educational programs.