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Located in the heart of New York’s Little Italy, the Italian American Museum preserves and shares
the stories that shaped Italian American life in the United States.
Welcome to the Italian American Museum
The Italian American Museum (IAM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution located at
151 Mulberry Street in Little Italy, New York City. We preserve, present, and celebrate the
history, culture, and contributions of Italian Americans through exhibitions, educational
programming, and community partnerships.
Museum Hours
- Monday: No public hours
- Tuesday: By appointment only
- Wednesday: By appointment only
- Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm
- Friday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: No public hours
Featured Exhibitions
Totò and his Naples
On the occasion of the celebrations for the 2,500 years since the foundation of the city, Totò was selected as the emblem of the Neapolitan identity: his figure represents an extraordinary testimony to the identity of the twentieth century in Naples, an eternal and poetic bond that traverses time and sustains the life of the city through him.
Totò and his Naples seeks to reveal the profound bond between Antonio de Curtis and his city.
The connection is both deep and indissoluble, appearing throughout the entirety of the artistic oeuvre: in the theatre, through the performances of the Compagnia Stabile Napoletana; in cinema, with numerous films including Miseria e nobiltà and L’oro di Napoli; in poetry, through verses that celebrate the beauty and the soul of the city. Among the most emblematic works are ‘A livella and Napule, tu e io, and in music, with Margellina blu and the masterpiece Malafemmena, an expression of that almost sacred lyricism that the Neapolitan people reserve for “l’ammore”. This major exhibition recounts the Maestro’s numerous cultural, professional, and personal ties to his city, and many interesting, lesser known aspects emerge. It is a journey that, through photographs, film clips, artifacts, stage costumes, and original documents, leads the visitor into the world of Totò, retracing his entire story.
Sicilian Theater in Little Italy: The Return of the Manteo Puppets
On the mezzanine level we have as our guests 32 life-sized puppets which the Manteo Family has generously donated
to the Italian American Museum. In the early 1900s Agrippino Manteo created a Marionette theater at 109 Mulberry Street
where he and his family held nightly performances of the tales of Orlando Furioso.
The Manteo family constructed and painted the puppets, created backdrops and assembled them so that they could withstand
nightly battle scenes. This was an extremely popular form of entertainment and enjoyed by the masses as the Manteo family
brought these inanimate objects to life.
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, a master seamstress in the NYC 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
For upcoming talks, lectures, and programs, please see our Events page. We post new programs and ticketed events
on Eventbrite as they are announced.
View upcoming events on Eventbrite →
Annual Appeal
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.
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 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.
Founder and President, Italian American Museum
Support
Support the Italian American Museum and help sustain a rich visual arts and cultural heritage for future generations.
Donors impact the Museum in many ways—through immediate or planned gifts. We are grateful for all levels of support.
The future holds many opportunities for the Italian American Museum to provide enhanced programming, increased access,
deeper understanding, and broader community engagement.
Membership
Members receive a 10% discount on all in-house Italian American Museum events.
Naming Opportunities
Click here for more information on Naming Opportunities.
Subscribe
Send your contact information and email to
info@ItalianAmericanMuseum.org
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Your support makes exhibitions, education, and preservation possible.
