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The Story of Comedy Lives Here

The National Comedy Center is the United States’ official cultural institution and museum dedicated to presenting the vital story of comedy and preserving its heritage for future generations, located in Lucille Ball’s hometown, Jamestown, NY. Featuring exclusive collections, world-class exhibits and cutting-edge technology, the National Comedy Center is one of the most interactive museums in the country. It’s not just a museum, it’s an immersive experience -- filled with laughter and fun for the entire family.

TIME magazine named the National Comedy Center one of its “World’s Greatest Places,”while USA Today named it the “Best New Museum” in the country and U.S. News & World Report selected it as one of the “25 Top Weekend Getaways in the U.S.” Visitors from all 50 states and 21 countries have given the Center a rare 5/5 rating on TripAdvisor, ranking among the highest attractions in the country.

Over 50 exhibits take visitors on an interactive journey through comedy history, personalized for their unique sense of humor. Throughout the experience, visitors gain a profound appreciation for comedy icons and innovators, as well as for the tremendous influence of humor on how we think, live and laugh.

The Comedy Center features collections and artifacts from many of the biggest artists throughout comedy history, including George Carlin, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Carl Reiner, The Smothers Brothers, Richard Pryor, Betty White, Don Rickles, Rodney Dangerfield, Gabriel Iglesias and Lenny Bruce and many more, plus a new exhibit on Johnny Carson featuring hologram host Jimmy Fallon.

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Explore More in the Chautauqua-Allegheny Region:

Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
Located in Jamestown, NY, Lucille Ball’s hometown, the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum explores the lives, careers and legacy of the “First Couple of Comedy” and the incredible impact they had on the world, as well as the pioneering role and remarkable influence that "I Love Lucy" -- the most beloved TV comedy of all time -- and Desilu Studios, the studio that produced "Star Trek" and "Mission Impossible," had on the entertainment industry for generations to come.