Search

The Italian American Museum in New York City

Key Facts

The Italian American Museum, founded in 2001, highlights the struggles and achievements of Italian Americans in New York City.It offers various programs including lectures, theater, and art exhibitions to raise awareness of Italian American contributions.The museum features the Manteo Collection of Sicilian puppets and pays tribute to significant events like the 9/11 response by local businesses.
The Italian American Museum in New York

The Italian American Museum is situated right in the heart of New York’s Little Italy, at 155 Mulberry street.  Founded in 2001 by Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, the Italian American Museum is dedicated to the struggles of Italian Americans and their achievements and contributions to American culture and society.

Another of the many worthwhile aims of the Italian American Museum is to raise public awareness and appreciation of the accomplishments and contributions of Italian Americans to the American way of life.  This it achieves through lectures, symposia, musical programs, film, festivals, theater, and art exhibitions.

Since the museum moved to its new home in Mulberry Street, some 23,000 people and 170 groups have visited.

There are nearly 3 million Americans of Italian origin in New York alone.

The Italian American Museum in New York
The Italian American Museum in New York

Celebrating Italian American Culture and Selflessness

The museum is home to the Manteo Collection – a collection of 31 Sicilian style puppets, scenery and stage crafted by the Manteo family who resided in Mulberry street in the 1900s.

Last year, the anniversary of 9/11, the museum paid homage to Nino’s Cafe.  This Lower Manhatten cafe was kept open by Italy’s Italian American owner Nino Verndome to serve emergency workers free of charge.

The museum also offer select travel packages to Italy at discounted prices.

A Walk Through Italian American History

The museum itself is divided into 8 areas, each of which charts Italian American history:

  • The Precursors
  • The Great Migration
  • Settling In
  • Forging Communities
  • Cultural Traditions, American Settings
  • Italian Politics – New York Style
  • Post World War II
  • Old Values, New Identities

That Italian Americans made significant contributions to today’s America is indisputable.  For example, three Italian regiments, totaling some 1,500 men, fought for American independence: the Third Piemonte, the 13th Du Perche, and the Royal Italian.  The Bank of America, the largest bank in the country, was established in 1904 by Amadeo Pietro (“A.P.”) Giannini.

think in italian logo dark bg 1

Stop reading, start speaking

Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.

This list goes on, and on, and can be seen on the National Italian American website here: Italian American Contributions

Help the Museum Continue and Grow

As with many such institutions, the Italian American Museum of New York survives on public funding.  If you can make a donation, you can do so here: Support the Italian American Museum

Or, of course, you can visit:

Italian American Museum
155 Mulberry Street
(Corners of Mulberry & Grand Streets)
New York, NY 10013

Museum Hours of Operation:
Saturday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday, 12 NOON to 6:00 PM

Monday through Friday
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY:

Monday through Friday – Open for groups of 12 or more Saturday & Sunday – Groups are also welcome for tours.

For more information call (212) 965 9000 or fax (347) 810 1028
or email [email protected]

Italians visiting New York might like to pay this museum a visit too.

Test your knowledge

Most Popular

Free Wi-Fi in Parco Sempione, Milan!

Yes, a free wifi service in Milan, Italy now exists and, most probably, works. If you manage to make it to the end of this post about my wifi exploits, then you will find a link to a list of free wifi hotspots in Milan.

Categories

Related Posts

Violence Erupts in Italy Today

Taking place today is a Europe-wide protest against the austerity measures implemented by governments and by the EU.  Italians joined in and protest marches held