Discover Jamestown

When looking for a hotel in Jamestown, it helps to decide in advance what you want to focus on during your stay. Jamestown offers comedy, local history, and activities on the water. The destinations also differ in what they offer: alongside a personalized experience, there are collections and historical connections; an urban trail system and ramps by the water offer further options. This lets you plan your trip around what interests you most about Jamestown.

Comedy: Experiences and Collections

The National Comedy Center is an interactive, immersive, and personalized experience. When choosing between the comedy venues, you can first consider the kind of visit you want: an experience with these three features or a collection of specific exhibits.

The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum features replica sets, Lucille Ball’s Emmy Awards, costumes, and rare memorabilia from “I Love Lucy” and other shows. Unlike the personalized experience, the focus here is on specific exhibits and their connections to Lucille Ball and the shows. This contrast helps you distinguish between the two comedy venues based on the different kinds of visits they offer.

History and Collections

The Fenton History Center is located in the 1863 mansion of Reuben E. Fenton, the 22nd governor of New York State. The year it was built places the house in its historical context; the title connects it to the state’s political history. For a visit focused on cultural history, a specific building and its connection to a named historical figure take center stage.

The Fenton History Center also features the exhibit “Made in Jamestown: How Furniture Built a City.” The title itself links furniture and urban development, drawing attention to another aspect of Jamestown’s past. Exhibits may change; if you are specifically interested, check before your visit to see whether this exhibit is on display then.

The Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame collection includes sports memorabilia from baseball, basketball, golf, bowling, and auto racing. This gives it a distinct focus alongside comedy and local history: the emphasis is on sports memorabilia from several disciplines. Group tours can be arranged at any time; contact Randy Anderson at 716-484-2272.

Riverwalk and Activities on the Water

The Jamestown Riverwalk is a five-mile urban trail system that follows the Chadakoin River through downtown Jamestown. You can walk, jog, bike, and roller-skate on the Riverwalk. Its length, connection to the river, and activity options give you concrete details to help with planning. Here, the route and activity determine the focus, unlike the cultural and historical destinations described above.

McCrea Point Park, at the outlet of Chautauqua Lake, has a boat launch and an accessible kayak launch. These are two distinct options for different activities on the water; the accessibility information applies to the kayak launch. This lets you choose the park based on the activity you have in mind.

Annual Event

The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is Jamestown’s largest annual event and includes more than 50 live events. The program may change; if you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the current event dates.

Discover more destinations: Bemus Point, Mina, Frewsburg, Mayville, Fredonia, Clymer, Falconer, Panama

For the main travel overview: Chautauqua.