Lucy-Desi Museum

Since 1996, Lucy's hometown has welcomed visitors from all over the world to the Lucy-Desi Museum in the heart of downtown Jamestown, New York. Inside its doors you'll find a warm salute to the First Couple of Comedy! Here you'll see priceless costumes, awards, photographs, and other vintage memorabilia on display from the estates of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Exhibits change periodically to guarantee a new and exciting experience for the repeat visitor.

With a push of a button you can hear audio clips from Desi's autobiography as well as stories of their youthful antics told by Lucy's childhood pals. A unique radio plays clips both from Lucy's 1940's radio series, My Favorite Husband, and some of Desi's famous Latin songs.

In the museum's screening area you'll enjoy interviews with some of Lucy's childhood friends and other rare video. You can also engage with interactive Lucy-Desi trivia and Lucy and Desi's personal family scrapbooks!

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The Ball-Arnaz family portrait, above the display cases by the front door, once hung in Lucy and Desi's home in Beverly Hills.

Permanent Exhibits

The panels on the left of the Museum (as you look toward the back) describe Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's personal histories.  You can push buttons to hear stories from some of Lucy's childhood friends or hear readings from Desi' autobiography, A Book.  As you proceed down the panels, you will learn about Lucy and Desi's early careers, how they met, and their creation of the most famous comedy series of all time.

The panels on the right, beginning at the back, show Lucy and Desi's amazing contributions to early television, which became standards in the industry.  There is also additional information about the history of comedy.

Interactive

Enjoy a multimedia "A Family Scrapbook" created by Lucy and Desi's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, then test your knowledge of "I Love Lucy" at the trivia and puzzle interactive computers.

Changing Exhibits

This season's exhibit is "Lucy & Desi: Memories & Mementos." It features costumes, memorabilia, and former possessions of The First Couple of Comedy.

Among the highlights of the exhibit are:

• The first of four Emmy Awards Lucille Ball received during her illustrious television career
• Desi's pin stripe suit that once hung in his closet in Del Mar, California
• Lucy's black peignoir, trimmed with ostrich feathers
• Original black and white photos taken during Desi's appearance on the first season of Saturday Night Live.
• A floral needlepoint mirror that once belonged to the Queen of Comedy

Video Screening

Enjoy continuously running video in the screening area at the rear of the museum.  Included are clips from "I Love Lucy" where Lucy refers to Jamestown, Lake Chautauqua, and characters in the show that are named after her hometown friends.  Then, watch interviews with the real friends!  There are also segments from Lucie Arnaz's Emmy award-winning documentary Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie, which is available for purchase in the gift shop.