Louis Armstrong House Museum in Transition

On July 17, groundbreaking was held for an Educational and Visitors Center across the street from the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens, New York. Twenty-three million dollars has been raised to fund construction of the building, which will have a state-of-the-art, multi-media exhibit area; a 72-seat “Jazz Room” where lectures, film screenings and live performances will be held; and a museum store. The entire research collection will be moved over from Queens College and housed on the second floor. The building is expected to be open two years after the start of construction. The cramped space at the small frame house on 107th Street, Corona has limited the programs and activities that could be held on the property. “We used to host receptions in the basement of the House, but were limited to 40 people,” Museum director Michael Cogswell said. “We had to stop holding them because more people would show up than we could accommodate.” Archivist Ricky Riccardi points out that having the Educational Center in the immediate proximity will be a game-changer. “Bringing eve