In 1989 Congress designated October as Italian Heritage Month. Italian Heritage Month honors more than just Christopher Columbus. This month provides the opportunity to highlight and recognize the many achievements, contributions, and successes of Americans of Italian descent as well as Italians in America.

We honor the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States but even more specifically, the Mohawk Valley. Over 5.4 million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 1992. Today, there are over 26 million Americans of Italian descent in the United States, making them the fifth largest ethnic group.