“REVISITING GARIBALDI”
IN HONOR OF THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR OF HIS BIRTH
October 2nd through
November 21st, 2007
The Italian-American Museum of New York is proud to announce a new
exhibit entered around the bi-centennial celebration of the birth of
General Giuseppe Garibaldi. “Revisiting Garibaldi”, will run from
October 2, 2007 until November 21, 2007, and is curated by Anthony
Dilluvio.
“This unusual and unique exhibit celebrates and commemorates the
immigrant volunteers who fought for the Union during the American Civil
War,” said Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, President of the Italian American
Museum. These soldiers were a diverse and independent minded group of individuals who were both inspired and
motivated by the example set down by their hero, Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Most came from Manhattan’s lower east side tenements, a hive of
political ferment, and daily survival. Many were veterans of the
failed revolutions of 1848-1849 in Italy, Austria, Berlin, Warsaw and
Paris. Some even served with General Garibaldi during the ill fated
Republic of Rome, and were under the penalty of death in their home
lands. What they all had in common was their working class status,
love of liberty, justice and America as beacon democracy.
“Each immigrant group attempted to form a regiment around their
national origins, but were persuaded to consolidate under one banner,
one flag, and one inspiration,” said curator Anthony Dilluvio. With
his blessing, General Garibaldi agreed to lend his name to the
regiment, so on May 26th, 1861, men from Italy, Switzerland, Germany,
France, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Belgium,
Croatia and Hungary took the oath of allegiance to the United States of
America, under their official designation, the “Garibaldi Guard”, 39th
New York State Volunteer Regiment. During the same ceremony, the
regiment received their three regimental battle flags. The Italian
flag came directly from General Garibaldi, being his personal flag that
flew over the ramparts of Rome in 1848, and containing his personal
motto “DEO E. POPOLO”.
The regiment’s uniform was also unique. Dressed like Italian
Bersaglieri, cock feathers and all, they march down lower Broadway to
the cheers of New York’s multitudes. The United States Army called the
Garibaldi Guard the most cantankerous unit in the service, and so they
were. They were also one of the few units that fought for the duration
of the war, receiving the appellation “Veteran”. They were at Bull
Run, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and
Appomattox. They suffered prejudice, wounds, death by battle and
disease, capture and mutiny. Some found ruin, others glory.
Our exhibit will include replica battle flags, uniforms, weapons and
equipment used by the Garibaldi Guard. Lectures will be given, that
will include the history of the Guard, and their mentor General
Garibaldi.
The Italian American Museum is the first museum dedicated to preserving
and presenting the cultural and social contributions of Italian
Americans to the American way of life. The exhibit Revisiting Garibaldi
is free and will be open to the public from Monday through Friday, 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment (212-642-2020) at 28 West 44th Street,
17th floor between 5th and 6th Avenues. Major funding for this exhibit
has been provided in part by public funds from the New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs and the Columbus Citizens Foundation
