The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum celebrates the “First Couple of Comedy” in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, New York, with exact re-creations of the I Love Lucy studio sets.
This guide was updated in August 2026. You can book your admission ticket in advance through Viator.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 W 3rd St, Jamestown, NY 14701 |
| Hours (Thu–Mon) | 10am–5pm |
| Hours (Tue) | 10am–5pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day only |
| Closed | Wednesdays year-round |
| Adult admission | $24 on the door, $22 online |
| Children 0–5 | Free |
| Nearest transport | Free parking at the National Comedy Center lot, first-come, first-served |
| Typical visit duration | 1–2 hours |
Why book Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum tickets?
- 🏛️ Exact set re-creations: Step into the Ricardos’ New York apartment and their Hollywood hotel suite from I Love Lucy.
- 🎟️ Double-check the current price: The official site shows two different adult rates across its own pages.
- 🌿 Lucille Ball’s own Emmy Awards: On display alongside original wardrobe and props from the show.
- 📜 Try your own Vitameatavegamin commercial: An interactive re-creation of one of the show’s most famous scenes.
- 💰 Free for under-6s: Children aged five and under visit at no charge.
Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum opening hours
The museum runs Thursday through Monday, 10am to 5pm, with Tuesday added to the schedule only between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It’s closed every Wednesday, year-round. The museum also closes for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Easter, while staying open 10am–5pm on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day.
Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum ticket prices
Admission is priced by age, with a combined ticket available for the National Comedy Center next door.
| Ticket type | Door price |
|---|---|
| Adult | $24.00 |
| Senior (60+) | $23.00 |
| College Student | $21.00 |
| Youth (13–17) | $21.00 |
| Child (6–12) | $19.00 |
| Child (0–5) | Free |
| Active Military and Veterans | $18.00 |
| Chautauqua County Resident | $19 |
Book online, and you get a $2 discount. It’s worth booking through Viator, to lock in a set rate ahead of time. A Dual Admission ticket covering both the Lucy Desi Museum and the National Comedy Center costs $43.50 for adults. Groups of 20 or more should contact the museum’s group sales office directly.
How to get to the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
From Buffalo, Rochester, or Syracuse, follow I-90 west toward Erie, PA, exit at Dunkirk-Fredonia, and take Route 60 south to Jamestown. From Erie, Pennsylvania or Cleveland, Ohio, follow I-90 east to I-86, then I-86 east to Jamestown’s Exit 12. From Binghamton or Elmira, follow I-86 west to Exit 12. From Pittsburgh, take I-79 north to I-90 at Erie, then I-90 east to I-86 toward Jamestown.
Parking at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
Free parking is available at the National Comedy Center’s lot at 45 W. 2nd St, on a first-come, first-served basis. Several parking garages around Jamestown charge $1/hour or $5/day, and on-street metered parking runs $0.50/hour, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (meters accept nickels, dimes, and quarters only). A free two-hour parking zone exists within the business district, and all parking is free on weekends.
How long to spend at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
Most visitors spend one to two hours, though dedicated fans often linger longer over the memorabilia and recreated sets.
Accessibility at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
The museum welcomes visitors of all mobility levels; for specific accessibility questions, it’s worth contacting the museum directly ahead of your visit, since detailed accessibility information isn’t published on the official site.
What to see at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
The Ricardos’ New York apartment and their Hollywood hotel suite are both recreated in exacting detail, letting visitors step directly into scenes from I Love Lucy.
Lucille Ball’s Emmy Awards sit on display alongside original wardrobe pieces, including the cello and professor costume from the pilot and “The Audition” episodes, and the lion tamer costume worn by Pepito the Spanish Clown in “Lucy’s Show Biz Swan Song.”
An interactive Vitameatavegamin display lets visitors record their own version of the show’s most famous commercial parody.
Photographs, personal letters, and original scripts round out the collection, offering a closer look at Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s lives beyond the show itself.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Confirm the current price before you go | The official site shows two different adult rates across its own pages. |
| Pair with the National Comedy Center | The Dual Admission ticket is the museum’s most popular and best-value option. |
| Bring small coins for street parking | Meters accept nickels, dimes, and quarters only. |
| Visit on a weekend for free parking | All parking around the museum is free on Saturdays and Sundays. |
| Plan around Wednesdays | The museum is closed every Wednesday, year-round. |
Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the opening hours? | Thursday–Monday, 10am–5pm; Tuesday added only from Memorial Day through Labor Day; closed Wednesdays. |
| How much does admission cost? | The official site lists $24 for adults; children 5 and under are free. |
| Is there a combined ticket with the National Comedy Center? | Yes, the Dual Admission ticket covers both museums for $43.50 per adult. |
| Is parking free? | Yes, at the National Comedy Center lot on weekdays, and everywhere around town on weekends. |
| How long does a visit take? | Most visitors spend one to two hours. |
Things to do near the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
The National Comedy Center, about three blocks away, is the country’s official cultural institution dedicated to the art of comedy, with more than 50 immersive exhibits.
The Fenton History Center, also in Jamestown, preserves the region’s local and industrial history in a restored 19th-century mansion.
The Robert H. Jackson Center, honouring the Supreme Court Justice and Nuremberg trials prosecutor, sits within walking distance of the museum.
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute, dedicated to the naturalist and ornithologist, combines art, science, and nature trails a short drive away.
Chautauqua Lake, just outside town, offers boating, lakeside dining, and the historic Chautauqua Institution community.
More Upstate New York travel
- Why leaf-peeping is not just for old people.
- The Abner Doubleday myth and the invention of baseball in Cooperstown.
- In the baseball batting cages of Cooperstown.
- A practical guide to visiting the Corning Museum of Glass in the Finger Lakes.
- Plan your visit to the Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration National Historic Site in Buffalo.
