Don’t fuggedabout history: Long Island’s Italian-American story is about to get a museum of its own.
Suffolk County is moving forward with plans for a new museum devoted to Italian-American history, culture and heritage — including the generations of families who helped shape Long Island.
County officials joined Italian-American organizations and community advocates Thursday to announce the project. The museum is expected to explore Long Island’s development while highlighting the Italian-Americans whose work and contributions helped build the region.
“So many Italian Americans have contributed to building Long Island and its continued success — we’re finally going to celebrate that properly,” Bob Fonti, leader of the Italian American Political Action Committee, told The Post.
Suffolk County is home to about 320,000 Italian-Americans, the largest Italian-American population of any county in the nation, according to census data. They represent nearly one-quarter of the county’s total population.
Another 238,000 Italian-American residents live in neighboring Nassau County. Together, the two counties are home to more than 557,000 Italian-Americans — approximately 20% of Long Island’s overall population, census records show.
Those numbers make Long Island an ideal setting for the museum, said Dr. Joseph Scelsa, founder and director of the Italian American Museum on Mulberry Street in Manhattan’s Little Italy.
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“It’s about time,” Scelsa said while announcing the museum plans.
“How did we get here — from steerage to the suburbs — that’s what this museum is going to talk about, that’s what this museum is going to tell you about,” Scelsa said, describing the story of Italian-American life and achievement.
Italian immigrants began arriving on Long Island in large numbers around the turn of the 20th century. Many traveled by Long Island Rail Road from New York City to jobs including work in Port Washington’s sand mines and Patchogue’s lace mills.
Others settled in Glen Cove, where they helped construct and care for the Gold Coast’s grand estates. In 1920, the city became home to Long Island’s first Sons of Italy lodge, founded by an immigrant from Sturno, a village in Italy.
Copiague’s Italian community was even known as “Marconiville,” a nickname inspired by radio inventor Guglielmo Marconi. According to the Long Island History Journal, Marconi visited the town’s Italian enclave several times between 1913 and 1917.
Officials have not yet announced a location, projected budget or firm opening date for the museum. They hope to have it operating within the next few years, with the project funded privately.
“I hope, next year, we’ll be making announcements on choosing a place — we have exhibits that we’re looking to do,” County Executive Ed Romaine told reporters during Thursday’s announcement.
Romaine added: “I cannot say enough about Italian-American traditions, family, their culture, and their food, all of which we enjoy here on Long Island.”