Cultural Events and Public Programs
The IAMLA offers year-round cultural events including lectures, panel discussions, concerts, film screenings, and community conversations that highlight Italian American history, arts, music and literature. The free public programs encourage dialogue, preserve cultural traditions, and create opportunities for intergenerational learning. The museum events are open to diverse audiences and support the museum’s mission of education and cultural understanding.
For the most updated list of events, please sign up to receive the IAMLA newsletter https://www.iamla.org/
Arts Education and Family Programs
The museum offers arts education programs that include hands-on workshops for children and families, creative learning activities, and curriculum-connected experiences. Family programs support youth engagement, creativity, and historical learning while introducing Italian American traditions and artistic expression in an accessible way.
Guide Tours
The IAMLA docent-led tours support lifelong learning by providing historical context, personal stories, and connections to themes such as immigration, identity, and civic engagement.
To book your free guided visit use this form https://www.iamla.org/docent-
Programs for Schools & Educators
School Field Trips
IAMLA provides guided visits and educational resources aligned with California Content Standards. School programs explore themes such as immigration history, identity, and civil rights through primary sources and interactive experiences. The IAMLA offers School Bus Grant Program, This program provides funding to assist with the underwriting of one school bus or similar form of transportation.
Plan a school field trip https://www.iamla.org/
Curricula for educators
The lesson plans are free to download and designed for middle and high school classrooms. They cover a variety of historical topics and themes, including the immigration history of the United States, exploring local communities through public art, and lessons on recognizing bias, stereotypes, and learning about folk music or food traditions. Each plan includes activities, discussion guides, and projects to support different learning styles, helping educators teach history with clear, standards-aligned materials.
Access educator resources https://www.iamla.org/
Programs for Families and Community Members
Family Learning & Community Engagement
Families and community members can participate in workshops, family days, cultural celebrations, and public programs that support intergenerational learning. These offerings are designed to be inclusive and accessible, encouraging curiosity and cultural appreciation in a museum setting.
Explore community events https://www.iamla.org/past-
Resources for Researchers & Lifelong Learners
Collection
The IAMLA collection has about 6,000 artifacts, photos, and documents from the 18th century to today. The Museum focuses on Italian Americans and Italians in the West and is the only one of its kind in the Western U.S. Many important items can be explored online in the IAMLA Collections Database, which is easy to use.
Learn about the IAMLA Collection https://iamla.