Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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This May, we honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by celebrating the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of AAPI communities throughout history. What began in 1978 as a weeklong observance—chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, largely built by Chinese immigrants—was expanded to a full month in 1992.

We invite you to explore the programs we have this month that honor and uplift the diverse stories, voices, and legacies that have helped shape our nation.

sS

Tours of the State Education Building

May 24, 2025
2 pm
  • Off-Site
Join us this May for a powerful screening series in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Each week, we’ll explore a different chapter in American history through the acclaimed WETA for PBS series Asian Americans, a bold and personal five-part documentary that reshapes…

During the Cold War years, Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a Model Minority, and targeted as the perpetual foreigner. It is also a time of bold ambition, as Asian Americans aspire for the first time to national political office and a coming culture-quake simmers beneath the…

Journey Through Time: Cohoes Mastodon Gallery Tour

June 11, 2025
  • South Lobby

Step back in time and join us for a fascinating 30-minute gallery tour of the Cohoes Mastodon, one of the New York State Museum’s most treasured fossils, led by NYSM Director of Research and Collections and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Dr. Robert Feranec. Discovered in 1866…