Staten Island - Garibaldi-Muecci Museum

A Brief History: On April 13th 1808 Antonio Meucci was born in San Frediano, near Florence Italy. He was a student of design and mechanical engineering at Florence’s Academy of Fine Arts. He left Italy in 1835 for Cuba to take a job at the Teatro Tacon in Havana. During his time in Cuba he conducted many experiments using electricity and developed several prototypes. 15 years later he and his wife Ester came to New York in 1850 where they purchased a house in the Rosebank section of Staten Island. He made a living wage as an inventor and candle maker.

Many now recognize Meucci as being the true inventor of the telephone. He created multiple telephone prototypes throughout the years. Meucci fell into hard times after an accident. His wife Ester had to sell many of his prototypes to put food on the table. Although he had preliminary patents he was not able to renew them due to his financial situation. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell filed his telephone patent. A legal battle ensued but in spite of dozens of sworn statements from very credible sources about the originality of Meucci’s telephone, Antonio lost the case. Antonio Meucci died on October 18th 1889, and along with his death so went the legal battles trying to get back the patent for the telephone.

Garibaldi was born on July 4th, 1807 in Nice, Italy. Italy at the time was a country divided into several territories. From 1848 to 1849 Garibaldi fought in Italy against Napoleon. Anita, his wife, fought alongside him. She died in 1849 while she and Garibaldi retreated from the defense of Rome against the combined forces of Austria, France, Spanish and Neapolitan troops. In 1850 Garibaldi came to America and landed in New York. Antonio Meucci offered him lodging in his home in Staten Island. Garibaldi returned to Italy in 1854. In 1859 he became General of the Austro-Piedmontese war. Through 1860 Garibaldi played a key role in the war to free Sicily and re-unify all of Italy. Throughout the next 20 years, war swept across the Italian land and Garibaldi fought to win the independence and unity of Italy. He died on June 2, 1882 having established himself as an icon of 19th century revolutionary nationalism and liberalism.

Haunted History: In recent years the paranormal activity has become more active. It is believed that the museum has become more active since it has been open to paranormal investigations. There have been reports of shadows throughout the second floor rooms as well as the first and second floor hallways. There have been voices in the second floor office; formerly Meucci’s bedroom and also in the first floor gallery room. Throughout the house there have been random cold spots and hot spots felt.