A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
We all know that New Yorkers have a fantastic sense of humor. But what you might not have realized is that there’s a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to all things comedy. Located in Jamestown, the National Comedy Center offers an immersive experience filled with laughter, fascinating stories, history, and fun. In fact, it was named the “Best New Museum” in the country by USA Today’s 10Best in 2020 as well as one of the “World’s Greatest Places” by TIME Magazine and it’s not hard to see why.
Welcome to the National Comedy Center! Despite only having opened a few years ago, this destination has made quite a name for itself.
It was always the dream of Lucille Ball to have Jamestown become a cultural center for comedy. The non-profit center was inspired by this vision and created an incredible resource where comedians and comedy enthusiasts alike could celebrate comedy. Learn more about the Lucy Desi Museum by clicking here.
So what can you expect from your visit to the National Comedy Center? To start, there are 37,000 square feet to explore, and you'll want to take the time to experience each corner of this impressive facility.
Each exhibit offers an immersive and interactive experience that explores the time-honed creative processes behind the art form comedy. There are over 50 exhibits ranging from the days of vaudeville to today's most viral internet memes.
Plus, there are plenty of tributes throughout the museum to the comedy greats, both past present. You're bound to leave with a newfound appreciation for comedy as an art form that has transformed our way of thinking, communicating, and connecting.
One of the most unique features is the "Act The Part" wing of the museum, where visitors can try their hand at stand-up comedy or even put themselves in classic movies or TV scenes.
Don't be surprised if you find yourself laughing out loud!
Have you ever visited the National Comedy Center? What was your favorite part about the experience? Be sure to tell us all about it in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you! For more information, you can visit the National Comedy Center website or follow along on Facebook for exciting updates. Ready to book your tickets? Click here!
Visitors should also note that during this time, the National Comedy Center is implementing its award-winning “LaughSafe” health and safety program to ensure a worry-free and touch-free visitor experience.