National Comedy Center: America's Comedy History Museum

Discover the National Comedy Center, the premier museum showcasing America’s rich comedy history. Explore exclusive collections and exhibits that offer a behind-the-scenes look at comedy’s great minds and unique voices.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • National Comedy Center - Head inside and enjoy the museum’s immersive exhibits and experiences to learn how the nation’s comedy developed, from vaudeville to viral memes. Stand in the shoes of pros, try stand-up, chart comic greats, and more; and upgrade to include admission to the nearby Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum.
What's Included
  • Admission to key attractions
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks (available for purchase)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Guide
Additional Information

The National Comedy Center, located in Jamestown, New York, is America’s first high-tech facility committed to narrating the pivotal narrative of the nation’s comedy scene. As a not-for-profit cultural establishment, it honors the exceptional intellect and distinctive voices of comedy, spanning from Charlie Chaplin to Dave Chappelle. Its unparalleled…

Location
National Comedy Center
203 W 2nd St
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(129 Ratings)
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Robert_s
Oct 28, 2024
Laughing is healthy - Wonderful exhibits. Truly inspiring. What a learning experience. Comedy is an important part of our culture.
Review provided by Viator
Alyssag839
Aug 31, 2024
Very entertaining - I was staying in Jamestown to visit the nearby Chautauqua institution and had some extra time and decided to visit this museum with my 11-year old son. We both loved it. It is incredibly interactive and keep us both entertained for a few hours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sneakindeacon
Aug 13, 2024
VERY ENJOYABLE AND ENTERTAINING - The National Comedy Center is located in Jamestown, New York, The hometown of Lucille Ball. I must say that I really didn’t know what to expect from this museum, but on the advice of some friends I decided to give it a try. My senior discount ticket cost $33.50 and it comes it an interactive wrist band that you must activate at a kiosk before beginning your tour. The activation process is quick and easy. This museum has a large number of interactive exhibits that you access by using the wrist band. Once you get use to using the wrist band is only adds to the fun. In addition to the interactive exhibits there are also many artifacts from the pioneers of comedy like Abbott and Costello, Groucho Marx, and the Three Stooges. I really enjoyed the interactive displays and artifacts relating to Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show. Jamestown being the hometown of Lucille Ball, you might expect a large number of Lucy artifacts and exhibits. That is not the case. While they do highlight her contribution to comedy they leave the more extensive Lucy experience to the Lucille Ball – Desi Arnaz Museum just a short distance away. There is also a separate section to the Museum that deals with “Adult Comedy,” which features comedy greats like Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Redd Foxx. Even though I didn’t know what to expect, especially the interactive part, I ended up really enjoying my visit. All and all I spent about 3-hours here and feel like I experienced everything. It was highly enjoyable, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who is in the Jamestown area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bettyg699
Aug 12, 2024
Laughing the day away!!! - Amazing interactive options. Must spend the entire day here. So many wonderful displays.. Highly recommend!! Don’t miss this museum!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sdbb2019
Jul 19, 2024
So much fun and laugh - This is one of a kind centre which offers interactive & fun experiences to the audience. The personal profile set up allowed us to enjoy the fun which suited our interests. We laughed and were amazed about the creativity of different comedians. Be prepared to spend a day in the centre. We barely finished all the exhibits in 4 hours. A lot of fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Boba66205
Jul 18, 2024
A Laugh Riot - My wife & I spent the full 7 hours laughing our way through the venue. There was comedy history and many video clips that were very funny. Well worth the trip to Jamestown!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davidgk8845je
Jul 16, 2024
Fabulous idea! - Great find in a small town. Only knew about it because some friends told us. Very pleasantly entertained. Great idea and great execution. Only wish that we had had more time and/or it was easier to get there. If you are in the area, a must stop.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris_n
Oct 22, 2024
Fascinating - It was a great trip. Lovely day. Would do it again. This is all I have to say. This is all I have to say.
Review provided by Viator
Carolinemu7449ic
Sep 23, 2024
Unique museum with some amazing exhibits - You get a discounted admission if you buy tickets to both this museum and the Lucy museum. It was definitely worth it. I thought the initial attempt at personalizing your experience was a tad lame but the videos and memorabilia were very cool! There’s a theater that’s dedicated to Johnny Carson that includes a hologram of Jimmy Farrow as “host” that’s unique. I really enjoyed the in-depth exhibits about comedians such as George Carlin, one of my personal favorites. Here’s my disappointment and concern: it’s too interactive so I felt a lot of frustration—-(1) tell me about this alright, already and (2) I just don’t see enough foot traffic to sustain it. I’m thinking it’ll need an expensive overhaul every 10 years to reflect the next generation’s comedians. I grew up in the 60s, 70s, and 80s so feel nostalgia for Johnny but I’m thinking that that expensive exhibit will be outdated soon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suech8350gy
Aug 13, 2024
I'd skip this museum next time around. - Maybe if you're a real comedy fan this might be a fun museum. For my family, we didn't really like it at all and cut our visit short. There are a lot of interactive exhibits, but we just weren't into it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
December 2024
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