The idea for the Enrico Caruso Museum began thirty-five years ago, when Everisto Mancusi came to America from Italy in 1920 and settled in Brooklyn, New York. He had a great love for music, and owned a collection of Enrico Caruso Victor records numbering more than seventy. As his love for Italian opera grew so did his collection of some three hundred records. His son, Aldo Mancusi, whose love and admiration of Caruso grew as a result of his father’s collection, acquired these records.

     Active in the Italian community for many years, Cavaliere Ufficiale, Aldo Mancusi (the title Cavaliere Ufficiale was an honor given to Aldo Mancusi for his creation of the Enrico Caruso Museum of America) has devoted his time and energy to establish a museum in honor of the world’s greatest tenor. In 1990, the museum was officially opened to the public with the support of Commenatore Michael Sisca, a prominent publisher of the Italian magazine, La Follia Di New York.

     The private collection and space of Cav. Uff. Aldo Mancusi was donated to create the Enrico Caruso Museum of America. Contributions and grants from the National Italian-American Foundation (NIAF), the Sons of Italy, the Brooklyn Arts Council and memberships of museum patrons, the sale of various books, records and opera mementos have all helped to maintain the museum. The museum is also registered with the New York State Education Department.

     The Enrico Caruso Museum has been the subject of many television and radio productions, newspaper articles and interviews in the tri-state area and in Italy. Most recently, the museum was featured on EGG – a Channel 13 special on interesting and unusual people and places.

     Programs for all ages and ethnicities and especially for students and seniors have been extremely popular. Whether at the museum, colleges, libraries or senior centers, the concerts or special events have been very well received.

     Thousands of people have enjoyed visiting the museum to see the memorabilia including rare family photos of the Caruso family, books, records and letters, clothing - shoes, ties, pipes, a bust and the death mask of Enrico Caruso. A popular attraction in the museum is the 20 seat mini theater built by Cav. Uff. Mancusi, with chairs and décor from the Old Met donated by famed soprano Licia Albanese and Rosa Ponselle friends and historians Enrico Aloi and Joseph Puglisi. There are films of Caruso’s life and times including his silent film, My Cousin, with him playing a dual role. These items were obtained through donations as well as purchased for display by the museum. Caruso family members have also visited, a prestigious honor for the Enrico Caruso Museum of America.