The museum describes their educational mission as "To preserve and tell the story of the contributions of the Irish people and their culture in America, inspiring individuals to examine the importance of their own heritage as part of the American cultural mosaic."
[2] The first physical location opened on June 16, 1990, on the grounds of the Irish Culture and Sports Center in East Durham, New York.
In 1992, the museum was permanently chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The 3,250 square foot space opened on January 17, 2012, and includes the Paul O'Dwyer Library and the Ancient Order of Hibernians' archives.
[7] The Irish American Heritage Museum is located at 21 Quackenbush Square in downtown Albany.