Garibaldi-Meucci Museum Hosts George Washington of Italy

This year Italy is full of celebrations of the 150th year of its unification, and of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the man who really made it happen. America has joined in during October's Italian Heritage &?Culture Month, choosing Garibaldi as honoree. Staten Island offers a unique opportunity to be part of the celebration on Sunday, October 16, at 1 p.m., with the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum's Terza Domenica Heritage Series. "Garibaldi: The Man, and the Myth," will be presented by Professor Louis Leonini in the auditorium of St. Joseph's School, 139 St. Mary's Avenue in Rosebank. After learning of Garibaldi's life and legend, audience members will be able to take a short walk to the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, and visit the place that Garibaldi actually lived while in exile from Italy in the early 1850s.

In his lecture, Professor Leonini will outline the exciting and colorful story of one the most famous architects of Italian Unification. Separating man from myth, he will bring to life this visionary who was a lifelong champion of labor and women's emancipation, and a strong believer in racial equality and freedom from oppression a full century before those ideals became popular in America. He will also tell how Garibaldi came to live on Staten Island while in exile, and of his life-long friendship with another great Italian patriot, Antonio Meucci, who was the true inventor of the telephone.

Admission of $10 for non-members and $5 for members includes a light reception.

For more information call 718-442-1608 or e-mail info@garibaldimeuccimuseum.org. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is owned by the Order Sons of Italy in America.

For information about other events in the New York area celebrating Italian Heritage and Culture Month, visit http://www.italyculturemonth.org/events.htm.

The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum was the home of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, and a refuge to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the legendary hero who championed the unification of Italy. For over 50 years the museum has fulfilled its mission to preserve the legacies of these great men, and to promote understanding of the Italian-American heritage through cultural, artistic and educational programs and classes.

Regular museum hours are 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is $5 per person, members and children under 10 are free. Call ahead for groups of 10 or more. The first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible, but the restroom is on the second floor. At press time, program funding has been provided through the Order Sons of Italy in America; by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the Office of the Staten Island Borough President, Richmond County Savings Foundation; Northfield Bank Foundation, and by grants allocated by New York State Senator Diane Savino and New York City Council members Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo.