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American Italian Heritage Association Museum and Cultural Center

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  • VISIT US 1227 Central Ave Albany NY 12005

     
    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



     

Originally based in Utica, NY, the association was established on June 12, 1979, where the first and current president of the Association, Prof./Cav. Philip J. DiNovo, resided. The organization was formed with the expressed purpose of recording and preserving Italian heritage.

Our History

  • Due to the persistence and dedication of Professor DiNovo, the first American Italian museum was located in Utica for 13 years from 1985 to 1998.When Phil retired from teaching, the artifacts he collected were moved with him to Albany. After an 11-year hiatus, where the artifacts were put into storage, the museum began a rebirth and took root at its current spot on Central Avenue in the town of Colonie, a suburb of Albany.

    Purchased in 2004, it took five years to restore the first floor of the building, which was opened as the museum on October 4, 2009. The site for the 4,000 square-foot museum is a former Catholic church, Our Lady of Mercy, which was built by Italian immigrant laborers in 1922.