One-hundred years ago, a church was built to accommodate a growing Roman Catholic congregation. Albany architect Andrew Delehanty designed the building, Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church in Colonie; and Italian immigrants were among those who helped build the church and then later attended worship services there. Since 2009, it has been the h...

The American Italian Heritage Museum sits inside an old church building on Central Avenue in Colonie. Much like the people it represents, the building has blended into the scenery while still having a distinct identity of its own. The credit for this goes to Philip DiNovo. A retired professor from SUNY Morrisville, he felt the need to record and pr...

Founder and president Philip J. DiNovo began the mission in 1979 when the American Italian Heritage Association was founded “with the expressed purpose of recording and preserving Italian heritage.” In 1985, he established the first museum of Italian American history and culture in Utica, New York, selecting the city because of its large Italian Am...

October 12 2020 Roma, Italy / The United States

Without a doubt, the Coronavirus has changed our personal and professional lives. We are in compliance with present NYS guidelines by keeping closed the museum, gift shop, and thrift shop. In addition, all of our scheduled events have been cancelled or postponed until eventually life gets back to normal. Our tenant’s businesses are closed as well....

On Sunday, October 27th from 4 pm at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center (00 S Mall Arterial, Albany, NY 12242), The American Italian Heritage Association, Museum and Cultural Center will be holding its Gala Awards Dinner. We will be handing out 10 awards in 10 distinctive categories to 10 prominent Italians in the Capital District. The awards...

For Mike Campanile, Wednesday’s first race brought back fond memories when a horse named Brockton George went to the post. “The first bet I ever made was in 1969 at the Brockton (Mass.) State Fair,” he said. “They had thoroughbred horse racing. My friend and I split a $2 win bet on a horse that threw his jockey when he came out of the gate, and we...

Our thirty-second Annual St. Joseph Celebration will take place on Thursday, March 15th. American Italian Heritage Museum  •  1227 Central Ave  •  Albany, NY 12205. The business meeting starts at 7:00pm, followed by a presentation with slides by Prof./Cav. Philip J. DiNovo and a short film. You are invited to bring bread, fruit, candles and dessert...

A WWII veteran was recognized for his services at the American Italian Heritage Museum on Friday. Back in 2014, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy recognized Father Anthony Sidoti as the Albany County Honor-a-Vet for his service during WWII. On Friday, McCoy presented the flag flown in Washington, D.C. honoring Father Sidoti to the American Itali...

Background: He was born in Albany and graduated from the University at Albany and went on to earn a master's in business administration. He taught that subject for 32 years at SUNY's Morrisville College. He and his wife Mary live in Albany. He's the founder and president of the American Italian Heritage Association and Museum in Colonie and was kni...