Italian American Museum of Los Angeles facts for kids
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| Established | 1988 |
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| Location | Los Angeles, California |
| Type | Historical |
The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) is a special museum in downtown Los Angeles, California. It's part of the El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument. This museum teaches visitors about the history and experiences of Italian Americans and Italians in Southern California and the United States. It's the first museum of its kind in Southern California. The IAMLA opened in 2016 and has shown many interesting exhibits and hosted fun events.
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Discover the Italian Hall: Home of IAMLA
The museum is located inside the historic Italian Hall. This building was built in 1908 and was a very important place for the Italian community in Los Angeles. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places!
The Italian Hall is found on the edge of what used to be the main Italian neighborhood in Los Angeles. Many important events happened here, like weddings, meetings, and concerts. Today, the Italian Hall is the oldest building left from Los Angeles's "Little Italy."
How the Museum Started
The idea for the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles began in 1988. Soon after, a group of people came together to raise money for the museum. In the first part of the project, almost $2 million was raised to fix up and restore the old Italian Hall building.
The museum gets its funding from a non-profit group called the Historic Italian Hall Foundation, which started in 1993. It also gets support from the City of Los Angeles and many generous people who donate money.
Explore Museum Exhibits and Programs
The Italian American Museum is an exciting place with interactive exhibits. It shows the history and ongoing contributions of Italian Americans through different displays and programs. You can find historical and art exhibitions, listen to oral histories, and explore a research archive.
Permanent Exhibition: Italian American Stories
The IAMLA has an amazing permanent exhibition that has won awards. It tells the story of Italian Americans across the United States. You can even see parts of this exhibition online through the Google Cultural Institute here.
Past Exhibitions: Art, History, and Fun
The museum often has temporary exhibitions that change over time. One past exhibit was "Sunshine and Struggle: The Italian American Experience in Los Angeles, 1827-1927." This show featured hundreds of old photos and items that had never been seen before, all about Italians in Los Angeles.
Other cool past exhibits include:
- The Sicilian Cart: History in Movement: This exhibit was a team effort with a museum from Sicily.
- Italianità: Artists of the Italian Diaspora Examine Identity: This show featured art from famous artists like Joseph Stella.
- Leo Politi's Los Angeles: Works of Love and Protest: This exhibit showed the work of Leo Politi, a famous author and illustrator.
- A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio: This popular exhibit explored the story of Pinocchio, a favorite character in children's books. It showed how the story started and how it has been told in different ways.
In 2017, the IAMLA won the Excellence in History and Preservation Award from the American Association for State and Local History. The state of California has also recognized the museum for its great work.
Museum Events and Activities
The IAMLA hosts many events throughout the year. These include free family workshops, movie showings, talks, and concerts. Some of the public programs the museum has offered are:
- H.E.A.T., Healthy Eating Ambassadors in Training: This program teaches people how to eat healthy food without spending too much money.
- Sotto le Stelle: A free outdoor concert for families.
- Cooking with the IAMLA: A series of cooking videos you can watch online.
- Craft workshops, like making masks and memory lanterns.
- Book presentations, talks, and movie screenings.
Annual Events and Celebrations
Every year, the museum helps put on the annual fundraiser called Taste of Italy Los Angeles. This event celebrates Italian American and Italian history, food, and culture. It happens in October and brings in thousands of people!
Other fun events include:
- Vintage!: A party with a theme from the 1910s to the 1940s.
- Film screenings and lectures.
- Art programs for families and children.
- Live concerts.
See also
