Louis Armstrong House, Queens NYC

I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom, visit the Louis Armstrong House [34-56 107th St, Flushing, NY 11368] and you will too. Born in a rough section of New Orleans with only a fifth grade education, Louis Armstrong rose to be a household name, worldwide. He was a virtuoso trumpet player and the father of jazz who created timeless music.

The small museum collection takes you through his discography, important relationships such as that with Ella Fitzgerald, and displays some fun artifacts such as a bathrobe and slippers.

The most famous jazz musician in the world could have lived in any lavish location, but decided on a quiet neighborhood in Queens, NYC. He lived there with his wife Lucille almost thirty years, until his death in 1971. On a guided tour you can go through the home, left just like it was when the couple resided in the home – no one else has lived there since. There are recordings of Louis playing the trumpet, or chatting with a friend. The kitchen stood out to me the most, I loved the mod décor and bold colors. The bathroom was extravagant. Art from all over the world. No pictures inside the home though, you’ll have to go see for yourself!

We learned some interesting stories along the way, like how Louis got the nickname Satchmo. It referred to his large mouth and was a reduction of another nickname, Satchelmouth. Another unusual tidbit was the fact that Louis was obsessed with laxatives. He used the to regulate his weight and encouraged friends (or even the British Royal Family) to use them. His favorite variety, Swiss Kirss, is sold in the gift shop!

The Japanese inspired garden out back is a great place to relax before or after the tour, if it isn’t pouring like the day I visited!

Good to know: Adults tickets are $10, there is a student discount. Plenty of street parking available.