HONORING THE CONTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
A NEW MUSEUM COMING TO CENTRAL TEXAS
HONORING IMMIGRANTS. PRESERVING THEIR STORIES.
IMMIGRANTS BUILT AMERICA.
WE’RE BUILDING A MUSEUM.
Long before — and since — 1776, foreign-born individuals have shaped what would become the United States. They’ve built cities and railroads, founded businesses, advanced science and medicine, created art and culture, and helped shape the communities we call home.
The Immigrant Hall of Honor celebrates those contributions and preserves the stories behind them.
Our Immigrant Hall of Honor recognition program, community storytelling project and digital archive are laying the foundation for an interactive national museum in Central Texas that will bring these stories together and make them accessible for generations to come.
MEET THE IMMIGRANT HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEES
Every year, the Immigrant Hall of Honor recognizes immigrants whose contributions have helped shape American life. Explore the stories of our inductees and discover the people behind the achievements, ideas, businesses, art, discoveries and communities that have enriched our nation.
DEVELOPED PRE-CURSOR TO WI-FI
Hedy Lamarr
Citizenship date: 1953
Co-invented a patented system designed during World War II to prevent enemy ships from jamming radio-guided torpedoes, ultimately serving as the backbone for modern-day wireless communication, including wi-fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and cellular networks.
INVENTED BASKETBALL
James Naismith
Citizenship date: 1925
In 1891, seeking a dynamic activity for students at Springfield College, Mass., he invented basketball, which quickly grew into a global phenomenon that today is deeply woven into the fabric of American society and culture.
INVENTED BLUE JEANS
Levi Strauss
Citizenship date: 1853
In 1873, he invented and patented a form of durable denim pants reinforced with rivets and designed for miners and laborers. His invention of blue jeans because a symbol of the American frontier spirit and evolved into a staple of mainstream fashion.
MEET OUR FOUNDING VOICES
The Founding Voices collection honors Immigrant Hall of Honor’s early supporters by sharing their—or their family’s—immigration stories.
Explore immigration stories from people who came to the United States from Mexico, Europe, Cuba and beyond, and discover how you can preserve your own family’s immigration story.
A LIFE ON THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER
RAFAELA PRIETO OCHOA
1887-1967
At 16, Mexican immigrant Rafaela Prieto crossed the Rio Grande to attend school in Laredo, Texas, where she studied English, business and practical skills. She married, raised ten children and built a life on the border. Six of her sons served in the U.S. military during World War II, carrying forward a legacy of education, service and opportunity.
a swede in chicago
OSCAR JOHANSON
1890-1966
Oscar Johanson left Sweden for America at 18, eventually settling in Chicago and earning a pharmacy degree from Northwestern University. He built a career as a neighborhood druggist, raised a family and became a naturalized citizen. When the Great Depression upended his life and career, Oscar started over, eventually returning to Chicago as a pharmaceutical sales representative serving hospitals.
HELPED BUILD MODERN QUEENS
WILLIAM WITTE
Citizenship date: 1868-1943
German immigrant William Witte arrived in New York as a teenager and built a life in Queens as a farmer, gardener, butcher and businessman. As Middle Village transformed from farmland into suburbia, Witte joined other local leaders in founding Ridgewood Savings Bank in 1920—an institution that helped serve the growing community.
SHARE YOUR STORY
The Immigrant Hall of Honor is building a permanent digital archive of the immigrant experience in America and every story matters, including yours.
Our free storytelling resources can help you research, capture and preserve your family’s immigration story.
Share a story by the end of 2026 and become a Founding Voice.
BEYOND THE STORIES
To find their place in the United States, immigrants often learn our language, customs and culture. But how much do we learn about the cultures and places they leave behind?
Beyond the Stories explores the histories, cultures, places and experiences that have shaped the lives of immigrants and their families. These resources provide context for the stories in the Immigrant Hall of Honor and invite us to look beyond the journey itself to better understand the worlds people came from.
HELP BUILD THE ARCHIVE
Every story we preserve adds another piece to the American story.