Museum

The museum tells the history of Italian Americans in the Southeast and their contributions to all areas of our daily lives through photographs, articles, family histories, and memorabilia. The musuem memorabilia are displayed on different walls identified and categorized by themes such as Societies and Festivals, Music, the Immigrant, Geneology, Personalities, and much more. These are just a few of the highlights:

Mardi Gras has always held a special place in the heart of Italian Americans. At the beginning of the immigration of the Italian Americans into New Orleans, the Italians were discriminated against and not allowed to join the Mardi Gras parade. Hence, the Italian Americans in the community gathered their resources and started the "Virgilians."

The first queen of the Virgilian's Krewe Ball was famous Italian opera singer, Marguerite Piazza, who graciously donated her ball gown to the museum.

The love of music is part of Italian culture. Transferred to America, that love blossomed into excellence and innovation in a variety of musical forms.

From the musical city, Nick LaRocca and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band were pioneers in the development of jazz when they recorded the first jazz record in 1917. Louis Prima played his way to musical stardom. Marguerite Piazza was an opera diva. 'Papa Jac' was the force behind the Dukes of Dixieland Jazz Band.

Other Italian musicians, amateur, and professional, community band members, and individual performers have added their voices to our musical heritage.

Italian organizations and societies gave comfort and security to the recent immigrant and a sense of continuing pride to the established citizen. Many organizations provided an insurance benefit in case of illness or death. Unique to New Orleans was the formation of Sicilian groups around their home village. Today's societies promote Italian culture and preserve the Italian heritage. The crowns and robes worn during the first ball of an Italian Mens Club is shown at the Museum.

The St. Joseph's Day Altar is a specific Catholic tradition brought by Sicilian immigrants to New Orleans. The tradition finds its full expression here because of the large Sicilian population. Over 90% of Sicilian immigrants came to New Orleans.

Centuries ago, villages prayed to St. Joseph to deliver them from drought. When the rain came they gave as an offer the food the rains the food produced. The altars are held on March 19, the feast day of St. Joseph. Church organizations and individuals make altars. Following the mass, the food is given to the poor.

Italian Americans are proud of the heritage and their culture, but they are especially proud of their families. Family, hard work, and religion have been the three pillars of Italian life. For the Italian immigrant, struggling for success in a new land, the family was a rock of support and encouragement.

These are the stories of proud people and families. But, each story is an individual story. Although a museum such as this one may generalize about the Italian culture and the immigrant experience, it is one of the best ways to remember that all these lives were lived one by one.

The Italian immigrant arrived with hope, expectations, and apprehension. The immigrant had to accept the new culture, but the people of that culture also had to accept the immigrant. It was not easy. Language, customs, and habits of mind could separate the immigrant and the people of the new country. Gradually, the Italian accepted the American culture and American culture accepted the Italians. Both were changed.

Today, the Museum is a symbol of that acceptance. It represents a people and culture proud of their uniqueness and proud
of their contributions.