Louis Armstrong House Museum's Corona Collection open through March of 2026

By Doug Doyle

Published December 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM EST

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James Blake (left) and Denise Pease (second from right) talking to Regina Bain (far right) about their Corona neighborhood

On this episode of The Art of the Story, host Doug Doyle talks about the Louis Armstrong House Museum's Corona Collection.

Louis Armstrong with Willie Johnson and brother Chris Barham in 1970

The oral history exhibit brings Lucille and Louis Armstrong to life through the voices of neighbors who knew them personally, preserving their cherished memories, heartfelt stories and neighborhood histories. While the great trumpeter and vocalist was known world-wide, he took great pride in his Queens neighborhood.

Willie Johnson in his old Corona neighborhood

These oral histories offer an intimate, never before heard peak into the life Louis and Lucille lived in the neighborhood.

Debra Grinage and Robyn Rogers are part of the Corona Collections oral history project

The Louis Armstrong House Museum's Executive Director Regina Bain and the director of community engagement of the LAHM and the project director of the Corona Collections Chanranya Ramakrishnan hosted a press event in October.

Chanranya Ramakrishnan (left) and Regina Bain hold a media press event this week at the Louis Armstrong House Museum

The exhibition will be open to the public through March 2026. You can get more information at louisarmstronghouse.org.