National Comedy Center
| Established | August 1, 2018 |
|---|---|
| Location | 201 West 2nd Street (West 2nd Street at Washington Street) Jamestown, New York 14701 |
| Coordinates | 42°5′41″N 79°14′38″W / 42.09472°N 79.24389°W |
| Director | Journey Gunderson |
| Public transit access | Via (Jamestown station) Chautauqua Area Regional Transit System Coach USA Amtrak Thruway |
| Website | comedycenter |
The National Comedy Center is an American museum dedicated to comedy. Located in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, New York, the museum opened in August 2018 and reported 66,000 visitors in its first year of operation. The museum had been operating since 1996 as the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum, which is now located a few blocks away.
The National Comedy Center documents the history of comedy and the artists, producers, writers, cartoonists, and other notable figures who have influenced its development in the United States (US). It was designated as the US' official cultural institution and museum dedicated to comedy by the United States Congress on February 26, 2019.
The museum includes more than 50 immersive experiences through comedy history, from early vaudeville acts to viral memes. Visitors have a ‘humor profile’ created on entry and stored on an RFID wristband called a ‘Laugh Band’. Content is then presented according to individual tastes, from broad slapstick to edgy satire. Along with educational games and competitions, guests can also create their own comedic content with interactive activities like performing stand-up, recreating iconic funny faces, and creating their own comic strip.