Italian American Museum of Los Angeles

Italian American Museum of Los Angeles Southern California's only museum dedicated to the Italian American experience! The ever-growing collection spans from the 18th century to recent history.
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Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) is a 21st century, interactive museum that documents the history and contributions of Italian Americans in Southern California and the nation. IAMLA’s collection contains approximately 5,000 artifacts, photographs and archival documents. Italian Americans and Italians in the West are the Museum’s collections priorities and the Museum serves as the only repository of its kind in the Western U.S.

🧀 The Founding Fathers had good taste! Think you know your food history? Think again. Come uncover more deliciously unex...
08/22/2026

🧀 The Founding Fathers had good taste!

Think you know your food history? Think again. Come uncover more deliciously unexpected facts in our temporary exhibition, Mangia! 🍝✨

Did you know that Bank of America was once called Bank of Italy? It’s true! 🏦A.P. Giannini established the Bank of Italy...
08/18/2026

Did you know that Bank of America was once called Bank of Italy? It’s true! 🏦

A.P. Giannini established the Bank of Italy in San Francisco in 1904 to provide banking services to immigrants and small businesses who were underserved by the existing financial institutions at the time.

Giannini issued thousands of construction loans to rebuild the city, leading to the bank’s rapid growth. Bank of Italy even financed the iconic Golden Gate Bridge! 🌉

The new Bank of Italy headquarters opened on August 17, 1908. Designed by Frank Shea, it saw A.P. Giannini take an active role in its design and construction. This historic building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978, commemorating Giannini’s revolutionary contributions to retail banking in the early 20th century.

The building served as the Bank of Italy's headquarters until 1921 when operations moved to a newer building at 1 Powell Street.

Today marks the beginning of the Palio di Siena, a centuries-old horse race in Piazza del Campo in Tuscany. This histori...
08/17/2026

Today marks the beginning of the Palio di Siena, a centuries-old horse race in Piazza del Campo in Tuscany. This historic event takes place twice a year, on July 2 and August 16, as a competition between Siena’s various districts, or “contrades.” 🏇

Central to the tradition is the display of each contrada’s insignia and ceremonies conducted in medieval dress, such as the blessing of the horse. Known for its intensity, the competition brings the community together and offers an eye-catching spectacle.

For 10 years, the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles has been preserving, celebrating, and sharing the stories of th...
08/16/2026

For 10 years, the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles has been preserving, celebrating, and sharing the stories of the Italian American experience. 🏛️✨

The IAMLA first opened its doors to the public on August 16, 2016, and over the past decade has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors. Thanks to the incredible support of our members, Founding Families, benefactors, corporate sponsors, and community partners, we've reached countless milestones and continue to inspire future generations.

Buon Ferragosto! ☀️Ferragosto originated from the Festival of Augustus, Feriae Augusti, first celebrated in 18 BCE as a ...
08/15/2026

Buon Ferragosto! ☀️

Ferragosto originated from the Festival of Augustus, Feriae Augusti, first celebrated in 18 BCE as a celebration of the harvest. It brought together the community and provided a well-deserved rest period after months of agricultural labor. 🌾

Historically, Italians would shut down their offices and shops starting on August 1st to embark on extended vacations to the mountains, beach, or countryside. Cities would empty out, making it difficult to find open businesses. As life became busier and times changed, these lengthy breaks became less practical, leading Italians to take shorter holidays. Nonetheless, Ferragosto continues to be a beloved national holiday, marking the peak of the summer season. 🌊🌄

It’s a time to rest, travel, celebrate the summer, and spend time with families and friends. Even in Italy’s major cities, bars, shops, and offices are still often closed.

Spend the day outside, have a picnic, pop some prosecco, and enjoy the last few days of summer! 🥂🍝

08/14/2026

🙂‍↔️ 🙂‍↔️ 🙂‍↔️ 🙂‍↔️ 🙂‍↔️

Did you know that facial hair grows an average of 0.4 mm every day?Taken from our permanent collection, here is a photo ...
08/12/2026

Did you know that facial hair grows an average of 0.4 mm every day?

Taken from our permanent collection, here is a photo of a young couple identified as the Bunara family.

How long do you think it took Mr. Bunara to grow his marvelous mustache? Let us know in the comments below!

Italy may have made the tomato famous, but did you know that the tomato actually comes from the America's? It's true! 🍅 ...
08/10/2026

Italy may have made the tomato famous, but did you know that the tomato actually comes from the America's? It's true! 🍅 🍅 🍅

Come learn more about the history of Italian American food in our temporary exhibition, Mangia! Admission is always free 🤩

📚 Happy National Book Lovers Day! 📚What's your favorite book? Tell us in the comments—we're always looking for recommend...
08/09/2026

📚 Happy National Book Lovers Day! 📚

What's your favorite book? Tell us in the comments—we're always looking for recommendations! 👇📖

Want to explore another chapter of Italian American history? Learn more about the history of Italian American cookbooks in our exhibition, Mangia!, and discover how these well-loved volumes preserved more than recipes—they helped keep culture and family traditions alive.

Happy National White Wine Day! 🍇Wine has long been an important part of Italian culture, reflecting traditions of family...
08/04/2026

Happy National White Wine Day! 🍇

Wine has long been an important part of Italian culture, reflecting traditions of family, agriculture, and community. This photograph from the IAMLA Permanent Collection features Adele Arconti and (possibly) Guido Arconti with a large wine cask, funnel, and wine bottle, offering a glimpse into the everyday role wine played in Italian and Italian American life.

Historic photographs like this help preserve the stories behind the objects, traditions, and people who shaped our community.

You can learn more about this history of winemaking in Southern California in our permanent collection!

Address

644 North Main Street
Los Angeles, CA
90012

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm
Sunday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

(213) 485-8432

Website

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