Louis Armstrong House Museum Celebrates Louis' Birthday Today, July 4th

Louis Armstrong, an American Icon, shares his birthday with America. So before the fireworks, Louis Armstrong House Museum invites you to Corona to Louis's house. The museum is open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Special birthday historic house tours will be given that include rare, personal audio clips of Louis himself celebrating his birthday with friends and band members. These clips are only played once a year on July 4th. Children under 12 will enjoy a complimentary cupcake to celebrate, too.

As an added bonus, at 1:00 pm in the garden, author Randy Fertel will read excerpts from his book The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak: A New Orleans Family Memoir. Anyone who loves New Orleans music, food and culture will love this book.

On The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak: A New Orleans Family Memoir: In 1965, a single mother mortgaged her house for $22,000 to buy a small steak house in New Orleans. That woman, Randy's mother, grew it into one of the city's greatest restaurants - Ruth's Chris Steak House. What started as 17 tables is now the world's largest fine-dining group, with over 135 locations worldwide.

The Gorilla Man and The Empress of Steak is a memoir of colorful characters - including Louis Armstrong. The story offers a close-up of life in the Old Jewish Quarter on Rampart Street - and how it intersected with the denizens of "Back 'o' Town," just a few blocks away, who brought jazz from New Orleans to the world. It is a story of family, food and soul.

The Louis Armstrong House Museum is located at 34-56 107th Street in Corona, Queens. The museum is open Tuesday - Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday/Sunday from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm. Guided 40-minute house tours start every hour on the hour. The last tour of the day is at 4:00 pm. The gift shop, exhibit area and garden can be explored before or after the tour. Parking is available within the neighborhood and the museum is accessible by subway via the 7 train.

Museum admission is $10.00, $7.00 for seniors, students and children and free for LAHM members and children under 4. Groups with reservations enjoy a discount on admission. The Louis Armstrong House Museum is closed on all Mondays and the following holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It is always open on the 4th of July, the date when Louis's birthday is traditionally celebrated.

Camp and tourist groups are encouraged. Reservations can be made at www.LouisArmstrongHouse.org.