Fresno County Italian Heritage Museum Expansion Project

Here is Sally Caglia’s Rosary/Funeral information.

Sally Caglia Obituary (1947 - 2023) - Fresno, CA - Fresno Bee View Sally Caglia's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

Sally Caglia was an original committee member of our Italian Heritage Museum. Her contributions to the Italian American community are immeasurable. She will be missed. Services will posted when made available.
Rest in peace, Sally.

Looking for a unique Christmas gift? Consider a legacy plaque. Your family name, on the wall leading into the Italian heritage museum at the Fresno fairgrounds. It’s the gift of your lifetime.

All through the month of October

Please check out our museum.
Open tomorrow, Sat Jan 7, free to the public.

Learn more about the rich history of Fresno County by visiting the Fresno County Historical Museum during their special hours on Saturday, January 7 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Fresno Fairgrounds. This award-winning museum provides a place for visitors to learn about historic events and places, cultures and contributions and more. Admission is free; donations are welcome! Parking is free for museum visitors in the Chance Ave. parking lot.

To get a sneak peak of the museum, check out our online video tours of each of the museum exhibits here.

The Big Fresno Fair | Blog Fresno County Historical Museum Open to Public This Saturday | January 7 Learn more about the rich history of Fresno County by visiting the Fresno County Historical Museum during their special hours on Saturday, January 7 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Fresno Fairgrounds. This award-winning museum p...

I brought a few family members to see our exhibit at the Italian Museum. Here’s a reminder: no need to wait for Fair time. Call and ask for Tyler, he is a fantastic docent and also gave us a tour of the other museum! He has a wealth of knowledge to share! Go visit the museum!

Here is the link to the Italian Heritage Museum at the Fresno Fair. Please take a look at it, there are many categories (12 and numerous subcategories) to choose from! Fresno County is rich with Italian culture and history. We are very proud of the work we have done. 🇺🇸🇮🇹❤️

Feel free to share!

Italian Heritage Museum Exhibit

Thank you, John Alkire. Just saw your interview on Fox26 at the Museum, which showed our beautiful Italian exhibit, and so many others. If you haven’t visited yet, it is open to everyone during the Fair. When the Fair ends it’s run, please call for a tour. 🇺🇸🇮🇹

While you’re at The Big Fresno Fair, be sure to visit our Italian Heritage Museum!

Is your family name listed?

Come si chiama? Check Out These 100 Italian Last Names and Their Meanings! Italy: The land of pizza, pasta, and prosecco. And also the land of some really-cool sounding last names. In countries around the world, there are specific meanings to the last names of the people who dwell there—and in a country with a long, rich history like Italy, those associations go back to ...

https://nationaltoday.com/republic-day-italy/amp/ #

Italian Republic Day - June 2, 2021 It’s time to raise the tricolor flags with Italians as they achieved their freedom on this day.

Here’s a few more pics from the ribbon cutting.

Thank you, Big Fresno Fair, for hosting our ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration!

There is still time and space to honor your family name and/or business along the Italian Wall of Honor at the entrance of the Museum at the Fresno Fair. Sizes and prices are in the forms.

Buon Compleanno, Italia! Happy 161st Birthday, Italy! 🇮🇹

On this day, March 17, in 1861, King Vittorio Emanuele II (1820-1878) of Sardinia became the first King of united Italy since the 6th century.

Born in Turin as the eldest son of Charles Albert, Prince of Carignano, and Maria Theresa of Austria, he fought in the First Italian War of Independence (1848-49) before being made King of Piedmont-Sardinia following his father's abdication. He appointed Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, as his Prime Minister, and he consolidated his position by suppressing the republican left.

Vittorio Emanuele supported the Expedition of the Thousand (1860–1861) led by Giuseppe Garibaldi, which resulted in the rapid fall of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in Southern Italy. However, Victor Emmanuel halted Garibaldi when he appeared ready to attack Rome, still under the Papal States, as it was under French protection. In 1860, Tuscany, Modena, Parma and Romagna decided to side with Sardinia-Piedmont, and Vittorio Emanuele then marched victoriously in the Marche and Umbria after the victorious battle of Castelfidardo over the Papal forces. He subsequently met Garibaldi at Teano, receiving from him the control of southern Italy and becoming the first King of Italy.

In 1866, the Third Italian War of Independence allowed Italy to annex Veneto. In 1870, Victor Emmanuel also took advantage of the Prussian victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War to taking over the Papal States after the French withdrew. He entered Rome on September 20, 1870 and set up the new capital there on July 2, 1871. He died in Rome in 1878, and was buried in the Pantheon.

The Italian national Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Rome, containing the Altare della Patria, was built in his honor.

And so March 17, 1861 marks the birthdate of the modern day Italy that we know today.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Epiphany Eve!

Like children around the world, kids in Italy look forward to the arrival of the red-suited Babbo Natale on Christmas Eve. However, this relatively modern tradition pales in comparison to the anticipation generated by the arrival of an old witch in early January. For Italians, La Festa dell’Epifania on January 6th is as significant a holiday as Christmas Day; especially for Italian children!

According to the Italian legend, La Befana, a witch-like woman riding on a broom, refused to join the Wise Men on their journey to see the baby Jesus. When she regrets her decision, she sets out to bring gifts to the Child but never finds him. Instead, she leaves gifts for other children. Italian children leave out their shoes or put up stockings for the Befana to fill on January 5th, Epiphany Eve.

And the legend continues that every Epiphany Eve, the old, tattered and soot-covered Befana flies around the world on a broomstick and comes down chimneys to deliver candy and presents to children who have been good during the year.
Read more here: http://bit.ly/2FjgM8q.

[Photo is a painting by James Lewicki, from “The Golden Book of Christmas Tales” 1956]

Here are all the photos in one place, creating an album for the Page.

This is the “ceiling” of our exhibit.