The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center is a museum in Jamestown, New York, dedicated to the lives and careers of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The museum officially opened in 1996 "to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and enrich the world through the healing powers of love and laughter". Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown on August 6, 1911.
The Center is located just minutes from Lucy's childhood homes in Celoron and Jamestown, and her final resting place in the family plot at Lake View Cemetery.[1][2] The Center consists of the Lucy-Desi Museum, housing artifacts and memorabilia of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, with a gift shop; the Rapaport Center, consisting of the Desilu Playhouse museum, the Tropicana Room, a gift shop, and offices; and a stand-alone gift shop. The Desilu Playhouse museum contains the replicas of the original "I Love Lucy" TV sets that were created for the show's 50th Anniversary tour, and other artifacts related to the show and its creators and co-stars; the Tropicana Room is a recreation of Ricky Ricardo's nightclub from the show.
Each May, the museum celebrates 'Lucy-Desi Days' which features several events including panel discussions with those closest to Lucy and Desi. In addition, an annual celebration of Lucille Ball's birthday is held in August.
The center is a prime tourist destination and Lucy fans from around the world come to celebrate the life and legacy of Jamestown's favorite daughter.