New Haven Museum Opened Pizza History Exhibit
The city recently celebrated its official status as the Pizza Capital of the United States with a new exhibition.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Italian Food
Live Poll
Do you believe local food history exhibits are a valuable use of community museum space?
The New Haven Museum has launched a new exhibition titled Pronounced Ah-Beetz, which documents the city's storied pizza culture. The display highlights the history of local icons including Frank Pepe's, Sally's, and Modern.
Why it matters
Organizers created this exhibit to preserve and promote the legacy of New Haven's pizza tradition. This initiative follows a 2024 state resolution that officially designated the city as the Pizza Capital of the United States.
The exhibit occupies two rooms on the top floor of the New Haven Museum and showcases artifacts like a pizza box top dating back to 1936. Curators have incorporated 140 years of local history into the display design.
The players
New Haven Museum
This institution serves as the primary historical and cultural hub for the city of New Haven.
Jason Bischoff-Wurstle
He is the curator responsible for managing the Pronounced Ah-Beetz exhibition at the New Haven Museum.
Francis Roselli
He is a historical contributor who donated a 1936 pizza box top for the exhibition.
Gorman Bechard
He is a filmmaker who directed a 2020 documentary detailing the history of pizza in New Haven.
The details
Curator Jason Bischoff-Wurstle organized the show, which features a wall styled to resemble a pizza oven and incorporates filmed footage of oven interiors. The project involved collecting historical items and artifacts over several years to document the evolution of the city's famous dining scene.
Timeline
A pizza box top in the exhibit dates back to 1936.
Filmmaker Gorman Bechard released his pizza documentary in 2020.
New Haven was designated the Pizza Capital of the United States in 2024.
Francis Roselli will speak at a museum event in October.
Roadmap
This exhibit solidifies New Haven's cultural standing following the 2024 state resolution that officially recognized the city as the Pizza Capital of the United States. It aligns with broader trends of cities codifying their unique culinary identities to bolster tourism and heritage preservation.
Residents and visitors can now visit the museum to see the history of iconic local pizzerias like Frank Pepe's and Modern in person. The museum also provides opportunities for engagement through its recurring Monthly Slice talk series.
The takeaway
Understanding the history of iconic restaurants helps residents appreciate the long-standing craft behind their local dining culture. Visitors are encouraged to explore the exhibition to learn how early artifacts shaped the modern pizza industry in the region.
What happens next
Francis Roselli is scheduled to participate in a speaking event hosted by the New Haven Museum this coming October.
Further reading
Learn more about the culinary traditions of the area in our Italian Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSHU.
Live Poll
Do you believe local food history exhibits are a valuable use of community museum space?
