American Jazz Museum, Jazz heritage museum in Historic 18th & Vine District, Kansas City, United States.
The institution displays instruments, recordings, photographs and personal belongings from musicians like Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong. Exhibitions document the development of this American musical form through artifacts and interactive stations.
The facility opened in 1997 as a Smithsonian affiliate, sharing its building with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The district supported over 50 nightclubs starting in the 1920s, developing a characteristic style of the music.
The museum occupies the neighborhood that served as the cultural center of Kansas City's African American community during the 1920s through 1950s, producing musicians like Count Basie.
The building at 1616 East 18th Street opens Tuesday through Sunday. Guided tours and over 100 recordings are available. The Blue Room hosts live performances four evenings weekly.
The collection preserves Charlie Parker's Graphon alto saxophone from the 1953 Massey Hall concert. The exhibit also presents Benny Goodman's shoes and an instrument belonging to Harold Ashby.
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