American Jazz Museum facts for kids
| Established | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Location | 18th and Vine Historic District, Kansas City, Missouri |
The American Jazz Museum is a special place in Kansas City, Missouri. It's located in the historic 18th and Vine district. This museum helps us remember and celebrate the amazing history of American jazz music.
You can learn about famous jazz artists like Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald. Inside the museum, there's even a real jazz club called The Blue Room. It has live music performances many nights a week!
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Discovering Jazz History
The American Jazz Museum has many cool things to see. One important item is a special saxophone. It's the Graphon alto saxophone that Charlie Parker played in 1953. He used it at a famous concert in Toronto with other jazz legends. These included Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, and Bud Powell.
You can also explore different jazz styles and rhythms. The museum has listening stations where you can hear all kinds of jazz music. The museum is also connected to the historic Gem Theatre. This theater is right across 18th Street. The American Jazz Museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution, which means it's connected to a big group of museums.
Step into The Blue Room
Inside the museum, you'll find The Blue Room. It's a working jazz club that looks like a nightclub from the 1930s. The original Blue Room was a very famous club back then. In those days, jazz clubs often stayed open all day and night!
The Blue Room at the museum has interactive exhibits. You can learn more about jazz in a fun way. It also has a bar and hosts live music shows almost every evening. You can find the entrance to The Blue Room right at the corner of 18th & Vine streets.
Fun Programs for Young People
The museum also has special programs for young people. These programs help kids learn about culture and jazz music. They are a great way to get involved and discover new things.
Museum's Story
The American Jazz Museum first opened its doors in 1997. It shares a building with another interesting place, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
Recent Changes and Growth
Like many places, the museum has faced some challenges over the years. In 2017, there were discussions about how to best support the museum. The city helped out to make sure the museum could keep going.
Experts looked at how the museum was run. They suggested some changes to help it grow even more. As a result, the museum's director, Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner, decided to step down in 2018. The museum's board also became smaller to help with new plans. These changes help the museum continue its important work.
See also
- List of points of interest in Kansas City, Missouri
- Kansas City jazz
- List of music museums
