Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona Expands With New Center

QUEENS — The renowned Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona is expanding next month with a new center that will host exhibitions, performances, and readings about the jazz musician's life.

The Louis Armstrong Center will open on Thursday, July 6, at 34-56 107th St., with its first exhibition "Here to Stay" about Armstrong's values of artistic excellence, education, and community.

The center will be home to the 60,000-piece Louis Armstrong Archive, the world's largest for a jazz musician, and a 75-seat venue offering performances, lectures, films, and educational experiences.

"We will ensure that music once again rings out on 107th Street through groundbreaking programs in collaboration with emerging artists and contemporary icons," said Executive Director Regina Bain.

The Museum is announcing the upcoming season of "Armstrong Now," which will feature the creation and debut of new works by Esperanza Spalding, Amyra León and Antonio Brown.

The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation donated the Armstrong archives in the 1980s and provided the funds to buy the lot where the new center is located.

CUNY and Queens College officials, working with state and city legislators, led the advocacy for the funding of the $26 million building across the street from the original Armstrong home.

Funds were awarded by the Office of the Governor, the New York State Senate, the New York State Assembly, the Office of the New York City Mayor, the Office of the Queens Borough President, and the New York City Council.