Louis Armstrong House

New York, United States

The Louis Armstrong House, formally known as 34-56 107th Street, is a historic house museum in Corona, Queens. It was the home of Louis Armstrong and his wife Lucille Wilson from 1943 until his death in 1971. Lucille gave ownership of it to the city of New York in order to create a museum focused on her husband.

The house was designated a New York City Landmark in 1988 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976. It now serves as a museum that presents concerts and educational programs, and makes materials in its archives of writings, books, recordings and memorabilia available to the public for research.

The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation gave the house to the Department of Culture Affairs after Lucille Armstrong died in 1983. This brick house was designed by architect Robert W. Johnson and built by Thomas Daly in 1910. Some changes were made to the exterior and interior of the house when the Armstrongs moved in. The porch that was once in the front of the house was taken down and the space was added to the living room. For the exterior of the house the garden was assembled and the garage was constructed by the Armstrongs.

In addition the interior of the house was renovated to their taste. Ornate bathrooms, and the kitchen was not originally part of the house. Paintings and souvenirs were given to Louis Armstrong on tour from Asia, Europe to Africa. These gifts have found a home of their own on dressers, night stands, shelves and walls.

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Details

Founded: 1910
Category: Museums in United States

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Loredana Gheorghe (3 months ago)
Always been a jazz fan and wanted to visit. It's a small house, but with a nice energy. Keep in mind it's situated down in Queens and the area does not seems very friendly. All in all I recommend the experience.
James Bloom (3 months ago)
The house is a time capsule of 1960s American luxury interior design, while the stories told about Louie Armstrong during the tour provide a mini-chronicle of his marvellous character. The visitors' center offers an outstanding aural and visual intro. not merely to Armstrong's own music, but to the rise of Hot Jazz in the Teens & 1920s and the transition to Big Band Swing in the 30s & 40s. I never knew until I visited the exhibition that Satchmo was a premier oral historian, collagist and archivist of the hay day of jazz.
Tracy Winder (4 months ago)
It was an awesome experience to spend time in the home of the late, great Louis Armstrong. We were staying in Manhattan and took an easy subway ride into the area of Queens to join the small tour of around 10 other people inside this (unremarkable from the outside) house, still packed with his belongings as he left it when he died. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and fascinating to listen to, we were shown every room in the house and shown pictures of Louis in the rooms as they still are. The tour ended in the back garden of the house where we could stay as long as we wished. The exhibition across the road which we viewed beforehand was also excellent.
Steve Barber (5 months ago)
We had a wonderful time here. It’s a strange museum, though. One of the most significant musicians in American history and you find yourself checking out his bathroom fixtures and hanging out in his wife’s bedroom with her nightie and slippers. Actually felt a little invasive! But that said, a fascinating glimpse into their world and a bit of insight into the man behind the music. The exhibit center across the street had some background though it’s rather small and weirdly there is little about the music itself. More about his impact on the culture. But everyone was super nice and knowledgeable and enthusiastic. A way different experience than, say, going to the Whitney. Give it a shot and book the house tour ahead.
Anwar M Hossain (7 months ago)
The Louis Armstrong House Museum is a historic house museum located in Corona, Queens, New York City. It was the home of Louis and Lucille Armstrong from 1943 until his death in 1971, and it has been preserved to showcase their life together. Visitors can explore the house where Louis Armstrong, one of the most influential figures in jazz history, created some of his most memorable work. The museum also includes an extensive archive of writings, books, recordings, and memorabilia, which are available for public research.
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