Thirty years ago, the Senator John Heinz History Center embarked on a mission to preserve and interpret the history of Italian migrants that settled in Western Pennsylvania. The initiative began at the encouragement of Italian American community leaders who sought to recognize the legacy of Italian immigrants in the region.

They discussed funding a museum, but several involved in the conversation encouraged the group to consider the historical society where a collection could be built and cared for into the future. This is when the Heinz History Center became part of the story.