American Italian Heritage Association and Museum

We are located at 1227 Central Ave. Albany NY 12005.

Re-Opening Phase 4 Thursday, July 2nd. We will be closed on Saturday, July 4th. We will be open summer hours. In order to protect our visitors and our staff CDC rules will be in force. Everyone will be required to wear a mask in the building, social distance and we will have a sanitize station. There will be regular cleaning and disinfecting of the museum.

Museum Hours JULY & AUGUST Monday, Thursday & Friday 11:-2:00 Saturday 1pm to 4:00 SEPTEMBER 1ST TO DECEMBER 31ST. Mon. Thur. and Friday 11 am to 2 pm . Saturday and Sunday from 1pn to 4 pm.

If you are coming from a distance always call ahead, 518 435-1979 to see if the museum is closed due to the weather! Open by advance appointment outside of regular hours. Bus Tours Welcomed. Please Call to Arrange Day and Time | We are closed on all National Holidays
Visit back again to stay informed about our re-opening plans

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We are committed to record and preserve the contributions of our Italian Heritage and culture to our society through our newsletter, cultural programs, activities, exhibits, and outreach programs.

Our Cultural Center offers Italian langauge classes. Our goal will be to speak the language smoothly with the correct use of phraseology and idiomatic expressions.

Our Cultural Center

Our memberships provide wonderful benefits and supports our goal to preserve our Italian Culture and Heritage.

Ways to support

AIHA Membership

The American Italian Heritage Association publishes a very interesting and informative 20 page bi-monthly Newsletter in English. It contains information about Italian Americans, Italy, history, customs, traditions, recipes, events and other information of interest to Italian-Americans. Membership is open to everyone and Annual Dues are only $25 : Free admission to the museum for all AIHA members

Become a member now

Our news letter that you receive in the mail will be delayed untill we are once again opened. Please visit the electronic version of our News Letter

click here >>E-News Letter

AIHM Museum

Museum Hours

January 1st to March 31st

Friday 11am-2pm. & Saturday. from 12 to 3pm

April/May

Mon., Thur. & Fri. 11 am to 2 pm. Sat. & Sun. from 1pm to 4 pm

June

Monday, Thursday & Friday 11:-2:00 Saturday & Sunday 1pm to 4:00

July & August

Monday, Thursday & Friday 11:-2:00 Saturday 1pm to 4:00

September 1st to December 31st.

Mon. Thur. and Friday 11 am to 2 pm . Saturday and Sunday from 1pn to 4 pm.

If you are coming from a distance always call ahead, 518 435-1979 to see if the museum is closed due to the weather! Open by advance appointment outside of regular hours. Bus Tours Welcomed. Please Call to Arrange Day and Time | We are closed on all National Holidays

AIHM

The AIHA Campus is Home of the Americant Italian Heritage Museum and Cultural Center. On the first floor our Museum (3900 sq ft) honors and tells the Italian Immigrant Story and their contributions. We will also display the contributions of Italian Americans. The second floor (1900 sq ft)contains the Cultural Center with a library, hall, Chapel and class rooms for all types of classes: language, cultural, genealogy, cooking etc. for all age groups and open to the public.

Directions

AIHA Campus

Second Chance Thrift Shop -Albany NY

The Second Chance Thrift Shop is a very popular location for those who love to shop for a bargain. The thrift shop has become a great fund raising venue for our organization. We are located on our AIHA Campus Grounds
1229 Central Ave Albany NY 12205
First Floor
Opened
Tuesday and Saturday
10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
A great selection at great prices!

AIHA Cultural Center

Our new Italian Cultural Center is located at the second floor of our museum. 1,800 sq. ft. of space includes a hall, library,class room,memorial room,reception & meeting space, Hall of Art, kitchenette and bathroom facilities.
Richard Putorti and his team catalogued 1,620 books in the main library of our Cultural Center. All reference books, protected books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, and other resources can be found in the back room of the library.

Our History

Our History The American Italian Heritage Association Our Association was founded in 1979, and we have become an international organization with members in 41 States and several countries ! Our goals are to record and preserve our Italian heritage and culture. The AIHA operated the Italian Cultural Center & Museum located at 668 Catherine Street, Utica, New York (Utica's "Little Italy" - east side of the city) since 1985. It was closed late in 1998 so that plans for the new national museum in Albany, NY could begin. We are a 501 (C) organization and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by the law The American Italian Heritage Museum Provisional Charter" was granted July 19, 2010 by the Board of Regents of The University of the State Of New York, for and on behalf of the State Education Department, and executed under the seal of said University and recorded as Number 25,129" AN ABSOLUTE CHARTER FROM the University of the State of New York, Education Department was granted October 2016

Museum Hours

January 1st to March 31st
Friday 11am-2pm. & Saturday. from 12 to 3 pm

April/May
Mon., Thur. & Fri. 11 am to 2 pm. Sat. & Sun. from 1pm to 4 pm

June
Monday, Thursday & Friday 11:-2:00 Saturday & Sunday 1pm to 4:00

July & August
Monday, Thursday & Friday 11:-2:00 Saturday 1pm to 4:00

September 1st to December 31st.
Mon. Thur. and Friday 11 am to 2 pm . Saturday and Sunday from 1pn to 4 pm.

AIHM Exhibitions

Exhibit

Terri Boor Exhibit

Museum Rooms

Italians In American Professional Sports
Honor Those Who Have Served
Italian Immigration room 1 & 2
Italian Folk Art Room
Fatih of Our Ancestors Room
Old Photo Exhibit
Arts Room
Special Exhibit Room
Hall Of History
Italian American Contributions room
Italian American music Room

Art For Sale

Feb-March
February 2020 - March 2020 Special Exhibit
"ART PRINTS" BY LOCAL ARTIST VIC CONSIGLIO
OFTEN HIS ARTWORK REFLECTS SOMETHING THAT HAS SPECIAL MEANING TO HIM.
THE PIECE TITLED GLORIA FLOWERS, FOR INSTANCE, WAS TAKEN FROM A BOUQUET
OF FLOWERS GIVEN TO HIS WIFE, GLORIA. VIC CONSIGLIO IS A PHOTOGRAPHER,
PHOTO TOUCHER, ILLUSTRATOR, DESIGNER, ART DIRECTOR AND ADJUNCT PROFESSOR.
THE EXHIBIT WILL BE UP THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

Museum Hours

January 1st to March 31st
Friday 11am-2pm. & Saturday. from 12 to 3 pm

April/May
Mon., Thur. & Fri. 11 am to 2 pm. Sat. & Sun. from 1pm to 4 pm

June
Monday, Thursday & Friday 11:-2:00 Saturday & Sunday 1pm to 4:00

July & August
Monday, Thursday & Friday 11:-2:00 Saturday 1pm to 4:00

September 1st to December 31st.
Mon. Thur. and Friday 11 am to 2 pm . Saturday and Sunday from 1pn to 4 pm.

Italian Language Class
New Language class for ten weeks starting on Monday, March 16,2020 Level 2 class.
for more info call 518.435.1979 Class fee $100 for members and $125 for non members.

In the news

What's New

MUSEUM AND ITALIAN CULTURAL NEWS composed by Sarah Cifarelli Wellen
The Cobleskill-Richmonville's Italian Class with Teacher Francesca D'amica Bailey visited our Museum 11/25/2019

Since the last newsletter, we have welcomed visitors from: China, Canada, AZ., CO., IL., MA., N.J., PA., FL., CA., KS., NC., SC., and VT. …Lewis M. Elia, a museum member, had a book signing at the museum for his book, With my Two Hands. Many members of Frank Masullo’s family attended the event…. Prof. Di Novo was interviewed by Ann Parillo, host of the Schenectady Today TV show. …We thank the New York State Sons and Daughters of Italy for noting the 10th birthday of our museum in their August/September issue of the Golden Lion Newspaper which also published an article on Columbus written by Prof/Cav. Philip J. Dinovo. …

The free Audio Tour of our museum has been installed and can be used on smartphones….

Read more

Prof./Cav. Philip J. DiNovo - President/Director

In 1979 I called together other college professors and we discussed that at that time we heard people starting to realize we had a wonderful cultural heritage. These professors agreed with me that we should start an organization to record and preserve our Italian heritage. I met them in the Syracuse University Law School and then, from there, we continued to meet, and build and grow, and then we founded the American Italian Museum. This museum is different from the museums in Italy, because its purpose is to honor the Italian immigrants and made possible for other Italians to have the kind of life that we have in America thanks to their sacrifice.

Donor Recognition Tree of Life

Your tax deductible donation to the American Italian Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will help promote record and preserve our Italian Heritage.
Our stunning Donor Recognition Tree, prominently displayed in the main lobby of the museum, was painted by Rosemary Prock. It depicts the journey of Italian immigrants coming to America. The leaves, made of brass, nickel, and bronze, designate those who have so generously given to our Donor Tree Campaign. The tree also features photo memorial plaques installed on either side of the trunk. We welcome you to become a donor.

Bronze $275 | Gold $350 | Platinum $500 | Photo Plaque $2500 |

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AIHA Events

Our Annual Gala will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2019.The Event will take place at the Empire Plaza Convention Center Albany,NY. This years Dinner Co-chairs are Ronald Canestrari, Assemblyman ( 1989-2012) and Victoria Graffeo, Associate Justise, NYS Counrt of Appeals (2000-2014)Partner,Harris Beach PLLC, Attoneys at Law

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Join our staff of volunteers!

Our entire organization is staffed by volunteers just llike you. Call us now to see how your can be apart of our team. 518.435.1979

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What our visitors saying about their experience

I have really enjoyed the hard working warm, loving, welcoming & helpful members, cooking classes, introduction to speaking Italian, newsletters filled with great information and Italian recipes, bake sales, Easter palm crosses class, December Business Meeting & the singing of the traditional Italian Christmas carols, and Museum Exhibits. It is a wonderful organization!

Mary Donnelly Cutler

What a pleasant surprise! Our afternoon plans before our flight home to NC got cancelled, so we looked on Trip Advisor. I was instantly interested in seeing this place, being 1/4 Italian. The founder talked to us for several minutes, giving us information about the museum. We only had time to go quickly through the first floor. We were so impressed, we joined the association before we left. Next time we are in the area, we will return. There are many rooms, each with a theme, telling the story of the immigrants. There are photos, old items of every kind, and personal stories. You won't regret it!
Ann Leitgeb Green

I went here today with my mom and sister. There is so much here to learn about Italians and their land. I suggest everyone should go. The house is unique how they made it over. Wonderful . I will be going back to see the rest. Favorite thing was the pews from St Anthony church. As my mom sat to rest on it I was thinking her and my Dad were married there in 1948 in a huge extravagant. I was baptized in that church too.
Paula Cotazino Begley

About our museum

The AIHA Campus is Home of the Americant Italian Heritage Museum and Cultural Center. On the first floor our Museum (3900 sq ft) honors and tells the Italian Immigrant Story and their contributions. We will also display the contributions of Italian Americans. The second floor (1900 sq ft)contains the Cultural Center with a library, hall, Chapel and class rooms for all types of classes: language, cultural, genealogy, cooking etc. for all age groups and open to the public.

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1227 Central Ave
Albany, NY 12205
518.435.1979

©2019 AIHM Museums. All rights reserved.