The Italians of Denver, a new and truly collaborative exhibition that sheds some light into the history of Italian American communities in Denver and across the state, opens on April 20 at the Colorado History Museum.

Discover the culture that Italian immigrants brought to Colorado, their family life, their political views and their religion. Learn about dozens of families from the 1850s to the present, listen to their personal stories, and see more than 200 rare photographs and artifacts.

"The Italian Americans in Colorado are, albeit transformed by time, a community that is part of a larger, enduring cultural identity," said Alisa Zahller, exhibit curator.

The first documented Italians in Colorado were in the mid 1800s. Drawn to the claim of wealth and land ownership in the American West, Italians settled in Colorado to become miners, business owners, farmers and railroad workers. By 1922, Italians made up 22 percent of the state's total population. One of the largest settlements was in north Denver, known as the city's Little Italy. After the 1940s, economic and social prosperity resulted in heavy migration out of the neighborhood and many became absorbed into greater American culture. Yet, the cultural ties remain.

Zahller noted that the exhibition focuses on Denver while recognizing that Italians have strong family roots in areas all around the state, like Pueblo, Trinidad and Louisville. Today, more than 200,000 Italian Americans call Colorado home.

In 2002-in an effort to develop research archives and produce the exhibit-the Colorado Italian American Preservation Association (CIAPA) was formed. Spearheaded by Zahller, who serves as chairwoman, the volunteers included members of the local Italian American community, as well as museum and library professionals, artists and academics. With CIAPA's assistance, the Colorado Historical Society was able to conduct oral histories, collect photographs and artifacts, and research families, businesses and organizations. The result of these efforts culminates in The Italians of Denver.

"We embarked on this project because the Colorado Historical Society had very little archival information about Colorado's Italian American community-where they came from, how they lived, what they did to survive," she said. "Families donated thousands of photographs and artifacts over the course of five years, all of which will help preserve the legacy of the state's Italian Americans for future generations to access and research."

Volunteers worked approximately 12,000 hours on the project. Zahller said she hoped that their efforts could be used as a successful model for other groups who are interested in collecting more information about their history.

In addition to the exhibition, a companion book will be published this summer, and the collection will be made available to the public through the Stephen H. Hart Library, after the exhibition closing date, July 6, 2008.

EXHIBIT SNAPSHOT

WHAT: The Italians of Denver, an innovative community exhibition that reveals the culture that Italian immigrants brought to Colorado, their family life, their political views and their religion. The Colorado Historical Society and members of Colorado's Italian American community collaborated to collect family and business artifacts, photographs and oral histories. The result of these efforts culminates in an exhibition and companion publication, along with new research archives and artifacts, now a part of the Colorado Historical Society's collections.

WHERE: Colorado History Museum, 1300 Broadway, Denver

WHEN: April 20, 2007-July 6, 2008. Hours are Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. noon to 5 p.m.

COST: Cost is $7 adult, $6 student/senior, $5 child 6-12, children 5 and under are free, museum members are free. Visit www.coloradohistory.org or call 303/866-3682 for more information.

The Colorado Historical Society is a statewide organization with 12 museums and historic sites across the state . Founded in 1879 as the designated steward of Colorado history, the Colorado Historical Society aspires to engage people in our State's heritage through collecting, preserving, and discovering the past in order to educate and provide perspectives for the future. This educational institution is headquartered in the Colorado History Museum and also contains the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, as well as the Stephen H. Hart Research Library, and administers the State Historical Fund, a preservation-based grants program funded by limited-stakes gaming tax revenues. For more information call (303) 866-3682 or visit www.coloradohistory.org.