Yesterday the new mayor of New York City dropped by the Louis Armstrong House Museum. This is essentially politics as usual—AOC and others have made the same rounds—but since I really dig the Armstrong house, I felt notably cheered by this photo taken by Hyland Harris!
February 1, 2026
In 2023, I wrote the November cover story in The Nation about Louis Armstrong, an article prompted by the new Louis Armstrong Center (and accompanying archive) across the street from the house. The tape decks seen behind the mayor above are featured: a fascinating topic!
The road to the Nation cover story began in 2017, when I wrote up my first visit to Queens for old DTM. The following photos are sourced from that occasion nine years ago:
Drummer Hyland Harris was my “in” at the Louis Armstrong House Museum. Here we are on the steps to the front door
My eyes widened when I saw the actual chart Pops read from for a record date with Ella
The living room is gracious
I played “St. James Infirmary” on the piano. (Louis Armstrong’s piano!)
Above the piano hangs Arturo Toscanini
The center object is an exceptionally rare kind of Serves vase. They made three of this model: for Marie Curie, Toscanini, and Armstrong
The Lladró brothers presented Pops with the first Lladró figurine to have African features
The breakfast nook has a still-life by Bob Haggart, jazz bassist and composer of “What’s New”
The kitchen is done up with a fabulous modernist aesthetic.
For musicians like Hyland and myself, the study is the highlight. Pop’s gear!
Pops edited the tapes himself
unusual letter opener and scissors
Groovy chair and a log book of reel-to-reels
When he finished assembling a tape, he’d write “‘S’ALL.””
The reel-to-reel machines are built right into the wall. Pops would tape anything and everything. Visitors to the House Museum are treated to clips in every room. The clips change, but Hyland and Harvey played me examples of Pops practicing with records: singing or playing along with pop tunes and Sousa. These tapes gave me chills. Unbelievable
I walked into this one. There’s a pretty good painting of Pops in the study. I asked, “This painter, Benedetto, is he famous?” Harvey answered, “You know him better as Tony Bennett.” I told Harvey he owed me 50 bucks for setting him up so perfectly
After the House Museum I relaxed in the garden of Lucille and Louis Armstrong. Not pictured, but past the fence and to the left, is the house Dizzy Gillespie lived in for many years. These two architects of American music would frequently play cards in the basement den of 34-56 107th Street
Following a friend's recommendation I stopped there on the way to LaGuardia (same day as the Drunk Santa crawl, it turned out) and can confirm: it's really, really worth it. The furnishings may seem quaint now, but they were luxurious at the time, yet the house itself quite humble. The Armstrong's could have left, but Louis felt comfortable there, so they remained. And apparently from the beginning the neighbors felt honored to have him there. I still get a little teary eyed thinking about it. Despite his tremendous celebrity, Louis Armstrong remained a "man of the people."
The peak of coolness!
Following a friend's recommendation I stopped there on the way to LaGuardia (same day as the Drunk Santa crawl, it turned out) and can confirm: it's really, really worth it. The furnishings may seem quaint now, but they were luxurious at the time, yet the house itself quite humble. The Armstrong's could have left, but Louis felt comfortable there, so they remained. And apparently from the beginning the neighbors felt honored to have him there. I still get a little teary eyed thinking about it. Despite his tremendous celebrity, Louis Armstrong remained a "man of the people."