Luigi Palma di Cesnola

Biography

Luigi Palma di Cesnola was born in Italy and came to the United States as a young man, answering the call to defend his adopted home during the Civil War. He rose through the ranks of the volunteer infantry, showing the discipline of a soldier and the curiosity of a scholar as he balanced duty with an abiding interest in history.

After the conflict he devoted himself to archaeology, bringing the treasures of Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean to American audiences and serving as the first director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Though debates followed the acquisition of artifacts, his dedication to preserving antiquity and sharing it with the public endures, and he was laid to rest at Kensico Cemetery among those who honored his pioneering spirit.