More than 150 people attended a ribbon cutting celebration on April 30, commemorating the completion of Phase I of the Italian Heritage Museum Exhibit in the Fresno County Historical Museum at the Fresno Fairgrounds. Made possible through grants from the Isnardi Foundation and E&J Gallo Winery, along with community donations – the Italian Heritage Museum Exhibit is already revered as one of the most comprehensive exhibits in the Western United States dedicated to the Italian culture and according to Nat DiBuduo, Chairman of the committee behind this exhibit, plans are already underway for continued expansion. Speakers included Isnardi Foundation Director, Peter Tocchini; Italian Consul General in San Francisco, Sergio Strozzi; Fresno State Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, Honora Chapman; along with other local dignitaries, committee members and historical contributors – all addressing the importance of preserving the rich history and personal stories of the Italian Americans in Fresno County and beyond.
“We are extremely thankful for the support of all those involved in making this exhibit come to life. What started as a vision in Spring of 2019, has evolved into a historic and beautiful exhibit. Despite some setbacks due to the pandemic, our committee and contributors pushed forward to make this exhibit a reality so we could tell the important, in-depth stories of our Italian immigrant families – how they settled in Fresno County, their successes, their struggles. It’s an honor to tell these stories of our heritage and part of our community’s history to younger generations and document it for our generations who lived it.”
Nat DiBuduo, Chairman, Italian Heritage Museum Exhibit committee
To read the complete press release about Phase I of the Italian Heritage Museum Exhibit go here.
