THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER IN JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK. | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

If you take a trip to Jamestown, you’ll likely need more than just a weekend — because you’ll want to spend at least a couple full days at the National Comedy Center.

The institution, which opened in 2018 and was declared the country’s official museum of comedy the following year, is a treasure trove for comedy aficionados. Yes, there are rarities and relics on display: Joan Rivers’ typewritten list of comebacks, Andy Kaufman’s jacket for Elvis Presley impersonations, Eddie Murphy’s costume from “Beverly Hills Cop” and dozens more.

THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER IS FULL OF INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS. | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

The interactive and personalized elements of the museum, however, are even more impressive than the artifacts on display. When you first arrive, you’ll scan a chip in your admission wristband and develop a profile of your taste, selecting favorite stand-up comics, movies, television shows and more. Then, as you move through the museum, the exhibits will actually cater themselves to your taste: When you sit down in the small theater dedicated to big-screen comedy, you’ll see clips and behind-the-scenes tales from movies you love. When you post up at a table in the area dedicated to stand-up, your favorite performers will appear on the screen in front of you to share their process and tell a few jokes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

When you aren’t watching your favorites, the National Comedy Center allows you to try your own hand at humor — with some help. At the Comedy Karaoke Bar, you’ll select a bit from one of your favorites and then get on stage to perform it for your companions (with the words displayed on a screen at your feet). In the Laugh Battle area, you’ll be fed jokes to try and crack up a friend on a game-show-like stage.

Oh yeah — there’s also another museum.

THE EXTERIOR OF THE LUCILLE BALL DESI ARNAZ MUSEUM. | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

Around the corner from the National Comedy Center, the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, which predates the larger institution by more than 20 years, pays tribute to a hometown hero. Ball was born in 1911 in Jamestown; the museum dedicated to her and Arnaz contains innumerable artifacts from their lives and work, including full recreations of several “I Love Lucy” sets. (You can even get your picture taken on the Ricardos’ living-room couch for $10; the biggest surprise is that this couch from the black and white show is blue with yellow and orange pillows.)

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

It’s far too much to take in over the course of one day. (And we haven’t even discussed the Comedy Center’s subterranean Blue Room — because, in print, we mostly can’t.) Your best bet to explore the two museums is to spend one full day at the National Comedy Center and return the next day and get a ticket that grants access to both museums; you can make it through the Lucy spaces in about half a day and double back to the Comedy Center to see what you missed.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

Jamestown is only about 2½ hours’ drive from Pittsburgh, so it’d be easy to make the drive on a Friday, spend Saturday and Sunday awash in laughter, and then drive back on Sunday night. Doing only that, however, would be a disservice; the town, and the larger Chautauqua Lake area, demand a longer visit.

Around the picturesque lake, a ring of breweries and wineries — at least 10 in Chautauqua County alone — offer locally made libations, often with a beautiful view. The town of Chautauqua itself, about a half hour from Jamestown, is home to the world-famous Chautauqua Institution,
which offers an annual series of talks, concerts and lectures from some of the smartest people in the world. (The lovely institution is open year-round, and worth a visit anytime for the grounds and bookstore.)

STEP INSIDE A CONTROL ROOM. | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

Outdoor recreation opportunities abound on and near the like, from hiking to watersports. It’s easy to see why the area has been a destination for relaxation and entertainment for a century — in fact, a young Lucille Ball fell in love with the stage by watching vaudeville performances in lakeside theaters.

The town of Jamestown itself, meanwhile, will make any Western Pennsylvania native feel right at home. It’s remarkably reminiscent of a similarly named city, in fact; from certain vantage points, you’ll swear you’re in Johnstown. A number of inviting bars and restaurants — check out Wicked Warren’s, an outpost of the Warren, Pennsylvania, brewery — dot the downtown area; many frequently offer live music or comedy. The Northwest Arena has occasional events but more frequent open ice-skating sessions. The Robert H. Jackson Center, dedicated to human rights and equality, offers regular programming in the name of the late Supreme Court Justice who prosecuted war criminals at the Nuremberg trials.

It’s a thriving and varied area with plenty to do; the National Comedy Center is the main event, but there are many more reasons to visit.

So no, a weekend won’t do. Unless you plan a particularly long weekend. Take off a few days and spend some time laughing.

Where to Stay in Jamestown, New York

The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, in neighboring Celeron, is a 7-minute drive from the National Comedy Center — and borders Lucille Ball Memorial Park. It’s a beautiful lakeside hotel (upgrade to a room with a view) with a bar and restaurant indoors and, in warmer months, a carousel bar on the lake. There are a number of good hotels along Lake Chautauqua, but this one can’t be beat for proximity to Jamestown — and for service, right down to the chocolates that the staff leaves on your pillow. If you’d like to stay within walking distance of the National Comedy Center, there’s a La Quinta Inn & Suites and a DoubleTree by Hilton right up the street.

Where to Eat

Make reservations at The Landmark, a local favorite in the heart of Jamestown. You’ll enjoy heaping helpings of steak and seafood, complemented by a good wine list and housemade bread service; in warmer months, you can opt to dine on the festive outdoor patio. The food is fantastic, the atmosphere is welcoming and the prices are more than reasonable. You should also plan on meals at some of the area breweries and wineries, especially the original location of Southern Tier Brewing, where fresh pours of the brewery’s signature varieties are accompanied by satisfying, traditional sandwiches and pub grub. Looking to fuel up while visiting the National Comedy Center? Drinks (including adult beverages) and snacks are available on-site; they’ll also give you a map of restaurants and bars within walking distance, if you want to pop out for lunch and return.

When to Go

The National Comedy Center is open year-round, and a visit in the colder months offers you the benefit of off-peak prices on lodging. For most visitors, though, the spring and summer are the best times to visit the Lake Chautauqua region, to maximize outdoor recreation and lakeside views. There may be no better time to visit than early August, when the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival draws dozens of stand-up comics to Jamestown stages; past headliners have included Jerry Seinfeld, Trevor Noah, Lily Tomlin, Nate Bargatze and Taylor Tomlinson.