Louis Armstrong House facts for kids
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Louis Armstrong House
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Louis Armstrong House, 2012
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| Location | 34-56 107th Street, Queens, New York |
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| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Robert W. Johnson |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001265 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
The Louis Armstrong House is a special historic house museum located at 34-56 107th Street in the Corona neighborhood of Queens in New York City. It was the home of the famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong and his wife, Lucille Wilson. They lived there from 1943 until Louis Armstrong passed away in 1971.
After Louis's death, Lucille gave the house to the city of New York. She wanted it to become a museum. This museum would teach people about her husband's life and amazing music. The house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976. It also became a New York City Landmark in 1988.
Today, the home is part of The Louis Armstrong House Museum. This museum is a non-profit group that includes three buildings. These are the historic home, the Armstrong Center, and Selma's Place. The museum offers concerts and fun educational programs. It also has a huge collection of Louis Armstrong's writings, books, recordings, and souvenirs. People can use these items for research. The Louis Armstrong House Museum won the 2024 National Medal for Museums and Library Service. This award is from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
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How the House Became a Museum
After Lucille Armstrong passed away in 1983, The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation gave the house to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The city then asked Queens College to help manage the building. The non-profit Louis Armstrong House Museum now runs all the programs and activities there.
The house itself is made of brick. It was designed by an architect named Robert W. Johnson. Thomas Daly built it in 1910. When the Armstrongs moved in, they made some changes to the house. They took down the porch at the front and added that space to the living room. Outside, they created a beautiful garden and built a garage.
The inside of the house was also changed to fit their style. Fancy bathrooms and a new kitchen were added. Louis Armstrong received many paintings and souvenirs when he toured the world. These gifts came from places like Asia, Europe, and Africa. You can still see these special items displayed on dressers, shelves, and walls throughout the house.
Why the House is a Landmark
A "landmark designation" means a building is very important to history or culture. It is then protected so it can be saved for future generations. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission held a meeting in November 1985. They discussed making the Louis Armstrong House a landmark. Many people supported this idea. They sent letters and spoke at the meeting. On December 13, 1988, the house was officially named an individual landmark.
The Louis Armstrong Center
The Louis Armstrong Center opened in 2023. It is located right across the street from the Armstrongs' house. Work on the center started in 2017. This center holds the largest collection of items from a jazz musician. It has more than 60,000 items!
The center also has a performance space with 75 seats. There is a cool multimedia exhibition called "Here to Stay." It was put together by Jason Moran. The Center also has a program called "Armstrong Now." This program invites different artists to create new works inspired by Louis Armstrong. Some artists who have been part of this program include Esperanza Spalding, Immanuel Wilkins, and Daniel J. Watts. Famous musicians like Jon Faddis, Nikki Giovanni, Jimmy Heath, Bria Skonberg, and Wendell Brunious have performed in the Center's jazz room and garden.
In 2025, the city government announced plans to spend $3.5 million. This money will be used to fix up a house next door. This house used to belong to the Heraldo family. It will be turned into offices and a community space for the museum.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Louis Armstrong para niños
