Italian Heritage Exhibit

Last year - Ends this fall ... Don't miss it !

According to the 2020 US-Census, 14.2% of Altoona citizens have significant Italian roots and heritage, which is almost 4% more than the Pennsylvania average, and more than double the US national average.
In 2021 Pennsylvania ranked 4th in the nation for number of Italian heritage citizens (behind NY, NJ & CA), with almost 16 million US-citizens tracing part of their heritage back to Italy.

... undoubtedly the Italian immigrant's first contribution was his brawn,
his ability to work and endure untold hardships. 
The present-day American-born Italian may well be proud of his heritage
in the thought that his forefathers have done the bulk of the hard work
for the good of humanity and the progress of our new and adopted home, America,
and all it stands for.
> Source

And no wonder ! There are two Italian clubs (Buccinese, Cesare Battisti), a neighborhood called "Little Italy", incl. the beautiful Catholic church "Our Lady of Mount Carmel", which has been founded by, and still is the spiritual home to esp. the Italian community.

And then there are the Italian cuisine restaurants of course:
Allegro, Finelli's, Luigetta's, Mama  Randazzo's, Nicoletta's, Villa Capri ...
plus about 2 dozen "pizza-places" between Bellwood & Hollidaysburg.

Add companies with Italian heritage like Alto Market, DelGrosso's, Lajo's, Pacifico Bakery, and various Fiore businesses (furniture, cars, construction), and it's easy to see the sizable footprint Italian immigrants and their descendants have made on Altoona & Blair County.

The Italian community also made significant and at times costly contribution to US war-efforts at various stages of the USA's history. From wars in the 19th century (incl. Civil War), to  World Wars 1 & 2, and every military engagement since. A great example of that are the Evangelisto siblings ... Click HERE for our WW2-exhibit.

Honored In Death
Army Presents Silver Star to Hero's Father
 
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Sciarrillo of 1016 Fourth Ave last evening received the Silver Star 
awarded posthumously to their son, S/Sgt Frank A. Sciarrillo, aged 27, 
who was killed in action in France on June 8, 1944 the third day of the invasion.
...
> Source

The Italian Heritage Exhibit is here to enjoy this summer & fall ... of 2023.
For 2024 another exhibit will take over that hallway space on our 2nd floor of the
Historic Baker Mansion History Museum.

Ciao & Arrivederci ... at one of the grandest -and oldest- historic buildings in Central Pennsylvania.
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