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151 Mulberry Street
New York City

Museum Hours:
Thursday - Saturday
12:00 - 5:00 pm

A New Home

in the Heart of Little Italy

The new Italian American Museum (IAM) will serve as a cultural hub and community nexus for Italian Americans and the Little Italy neighborhood. Through permanent and temporary exhibits, robust educational and cultural programming, and collaborations with the community, the IAM will become the preeminent center for learning about and engaging with Italian as a platform for sharing Italian American voices and celebrating Italian American achievements, the IAM will be interesting to both Italian Americans and non-Italian Americans, bringing Italian American culture and heritage to younger generations and a wide range of new audiences.

The Italian American Museum preserves, promotes, and celebrates the culture and history of Italian Americans, serving as living record of their contributions to America and a bridge between the remarkable past and the evolving future of the community.

By allowing Italian Americans to share their story in their voice, the Italian American Museum will encourage a full appreciation of what it means to be Italian American.

News

Progress Photos

Museum Hours

 

Monday: No public hours

Tuesday: No public hours

Wednesday: By appointment only

Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Friday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Sunday: By appointment only

Featured Exhibits

Sicilian Theater in Little Italy:

The Return of the Manteo Puppets

Verrazzano’s Voyage to America:

The Quincentennial Year

Goodnight, Maria

A tribute to all the women

who worked tirelessly

in the garment industry

to live the American dream

Life-sized sculpture of 95 year old Maria Pulsone

Life-sized sculpture of 95 year old Maria Pulsone who was a “master seamstress” in the garment district. The plaster statue of her was placed in the lobby of the Saint Laurie suit company where she worked. Each night as the women left the building they would pass by her and say “Good Night, Maria”.

Events

Winterhawk

Film Screening

and

Q&A segment

with lead actor

Michael Dante

Friday, July 11th, 2:00 pm

Click here for tickets

Winterhawk starring Michael Dante
Please join us this Friday July 11th at the Italian American Museum for a special screening presentation of Winterhawk. The title role is portrayed by the award-winning actor, award-winning published author and celebrity radio talk show host, Michael Dante. His Italian heritage has been an inspiration in representing so many different roles throughout his career. Michael will be in attendance for a Question-and-Answer segment after the screening and he will have copies of his books and memorabilia personally autographed for sale.
This is a once-in-a lifetime experience, as it is the 50th Anniversary of the making of the film Winterhawk in 1975. How fast the time goes!
About Michael Dante:
Award Winning Actor/Award Winning Author/Celebrity Radio Talk Show Host Michael Dante has appeared in approximately 30 films and 150 television shows and spent several years under contract to three major studios; MGM, Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox. Michael was a bonus ball player with the Boston Braves and later went to the big leagues with the Washington Senators. He has won many awards in and out of Hollywood and has a street named after him, Michael Dante Way, in his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut. Michael’s first starring role was in Westbound with Randolph Scott, co-starred in two films with Audie Murphy, Apache Rifles and Arizona Raiders, Seven Thieves with Rod Steiger, Edward G. Robinson and Joan Collins, Sammy Fuller’s film noir, The Naked Kiss and starred in the title role in the film Winterhawk. He co-starred in classic TV shows such as Desilu Playhouse, Star Trek, Bonanza, General Hospital and the Custer Series, just to name a few. Michael hosted his own one-hour radio talk show, The Michael Dante Classic Celebrity Talk Show, with the top names in entertainment and sports. Michael has written his biography about the people he worked with and those he encountered throughout his journey, ‘Michael Dante – From Hollywood to Michael Dante Way.’
About the film:
Winterhawk is a 1975 American Western film co-written, produced and directed by Charles B. Pierce. Starring Leif Erickson, Woody Strode, Denver Pyle, L.Q. Jones, Michael Dante and Elisha Cook Jr., the story involves a Blackfoot chief who attempts to get help for his tribe who have been infected by smallpox but is betrayed by the people from whom he seeks help.

Friday, July 11th, 2:00 pm

$15 per person

(includes event ticket

and Museum admission)

Italian American Museum

151 Mulberry Street

New York, NY 10013

Click here for tickets

Jazz and Exile

A recital of

music and readings

by

Jazz Trumpeter

Mario Fragiacomo

Saturday, July 12th, 5:00 pm

Click here for tickets

Jazz and Exile - A book based on Mario Friagiacomo's experience as a witness of the mass exodus of Istrians, Fiumans and Dalmatians from their homes during and after World War II
The Italian American Museum cordially invites you to attend a recital of music and readings by Luisa Brencella (narrative voice) and jazz trumpeter Mario Fragiacomo (Muted Flugelhorn and multi-effects) based on the book, “Jazz and Exile” this Saturday at 5:00 pm.
Introducing the recital is Founder and President of the Italian American Museum, Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa.
About the book:
After its official Canadian presentation last March in Toronto, this English-language edition of the book is now being presented for the first time to the American public in New York City. The presentation will feature the book’s subject, that is, the jazz trumpeter Mario Fragiacomo, who will speak and perform with the support of a narrator of Istrian origin.
Normally it is the author of a book who introduces his work to the audience.
This time, however, it is the protagonist of the book who reverses the usual ritual of presentation.
This is a personal story “from the eastern border” of Italy, which was unfortunately involved in the dramatic exodus of Istrians, Fiumans and Dalmatians during and after World War II, an event that Fragiacomo, one of the last living witnesses of the exodus, personally experienced and that he retraces in the book not with the eyes of the historian, but with those of a musician, guided by the explicit desire to make known a story too long forgotten.
Since he is a musician, a CD containing an anthology of his music is included with the book. It includes a selection of 20 pieces from his discography.

Saturday, July 12th, 5:00 pm

$10 per person

(includes event ticket

and Museum admission)

Italian American Museum

151 Mulberry Street

New York, NY 10013

Click here for tickets

The Italian

Americans

of Los Angeles

Book Reading

and Talk

with Marianna Gatto

Wednesday, July 16th, 6:00 pm

Click here for tickets

The Italian Americans of Los Angeles -7/16/25

The Executive Director & Co-Founder of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles presents her new book, “The Italian Americans of Los Angeles: A History”.

Italians first began settling in Los Angeles two hundred years ago. While they have left an indelible imprint on the region, they have been largely overlooked in both local and Italian American histories. Gatto’s work, based on in-depth research and interviews, is the first extended account of Italian Americans in the City of Angels.

The conversation will be followed by audience Q&A and the book will be available for purchase after the program.

About the Author:

Since 2010, Marianna Gatto has served as the Executive Director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, an institution that she also co-founded. Gatto’s roles span from development and advocacy to education; she authored and curates the museum’s award-winning permanent exhibition as well as its temporary exhibitions. A previously published author, Gatto has appeared in various documentaries, consulted for major networks, and is a frequent guest speaker. Gatto holds degrees in social science (B.A), and education-history (M.A.). In 2021 the Italian Republic awarded her the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy).

Wednesday, July 16th, 6:00 pm

$10 per person

(includes event ticket

and Museum admission)

Italian American Museum

151 Mulberry Street

New York, NY 10013

Click here for tickets

Annual Appeal 2025

Dear Friends:

We are pleased to announce that on October 1, 2024 at the beginning of Italian American Heritage and Culture Month we cut the ribbon opening our new facility for the Italian American Museum.

 

October 1, 2024 / Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Pictured (left to right): Hon. Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President; Hon. Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller; Hon. Jerrold Nadler, United States Congressman; Hon. Fabrizio Di Michele, Consul General of Italy in NY; Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, Founder and President, Italian American Museum; Hon. Kathleen Hochul, Governor of the State of New York; Hon. Joseph Addabbo, Jr., New York State Senator; Hon. Michael Benedetto, New York State Assemblyman; Hon. Thomas Suozzi, United States Congressman

Currently we have on display 32 Manteo Puppets, made by Agrippino Manteo on Mulberry Street one hundred years ago.  In addition we have a tribute to Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first European to sail into New York Harbor in 1524, 500 years ago.  This exhibit was given to us by the Verrazzano Institute in Chianti, Italy.  We also have the statue of Maria Pulsone, a seamstress in the NYC garment district, a tribute to all who toiled in that industry.

In Summer 2025, we will open our permanent exhibition, The Italian American Experience, which will document the struggles and achievements of our people from before the birth of our Nation up to the present day.

It will have five interactive exhibits and thousands of artifacts.

Of course, all this is not possible without your support so we ask you now  at this time of our Annual Appeal to be as generous as possible.

Wishing you a happy and healthy Holiday Season.

Sincerely,

Uff. Prof. Joseph V. Scelsa, Ed.D.

Our Story

From Columbus to Cuomo

From our beginnings in Little Italy

The IAM is located on Mulberry Street in the heart of what was once the largest Italian community in the United States in the first quarter of the 20th century.

We became aware of the need for our own Museum in 1999, with the launch of the first major exhibition on Italians in America at the New York Historical Society, “The Italians of New York: Five Centuries of Struggle and Achievement”. The exhibit was a great success and we realized that in order to be part of the cultural dialogue in America, we needed our own Museum. So in 2001, we were chartered in New York State as the first Italian Museum in America. In our Museum, we seek to tell our whole story from Columbus to Cuomo and everything in between, our struggles and our accomplishments through hard work, ingenuity and perseverance. It has not always been easy but we have much to be proud of, for our contributions to American society are enormous. Now we will have a secular cathedral for all to see, experience and appreciate where we came from and what we have achieved.

Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa
Founder and President
Italian American Museum

Our Future

Invest in the Italian American Museum

Click on the image above to view Vision Book for the new Italian American Museum

Support

Saying Thank You the Right Way is a Priority

Remembering our past by supporting our future

Support the Italian American Museum and choose to make a difference by sustaining a rich visual arts and cultural heritage for future generations. Donors impact the museum in different ways either through immediate or planned gifts. The Italian American Museum is grateful for all levels of support — big or small. The future holds many opportunities for the Italian American Museum to provide enhanced programming, increased access, deeper understanding and broader community engagement. Through our ongoing commitment to create new experiences that challenge and inspire, we are pleased to offer a variety of ways donors and members can be involved.

Donors to the Italian American Museum are more than just supporters. They are a community of believers in the power of art and cultural heritage to help interpret and shape the world. While there are many ways to say thank you to such visionaries, the most meaningful is often a reflection of the donors themselves. That’s why the Italian American Museum’s gift recognition is highly personalized and tailored to the individual wishes of donors.

Membership

Members receive a 10% discount on all in-house Italian American Museum events.

Naming

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Naming Opportunities

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