DATE: Friday, July 21st – 2:30 PM çççç
LOCATION: Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archive
Lower Level of the River Music Experience, 2nd and Main St., Davenport, IA
For over half a century, dedicated fans have dreamed of a permanent museum and archive to preserve the memory of the world-famous Bix Beiderbecke and his music. The long-planned Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archive opens to the public on July 24, 2017, in its new home at the River Music Experience in Bix’s hometown of Davenport, Iowa.
The new museum honors the life and music of the Bix Beiderbecke and features many original artifacts related to Beiderbecke and his colleagues, as well as a life-size figure of the cornetist in a recreation of the bandstand at Hudson Lake, Indiana. Bix spent his summer there is 1926 playing with the Goldkette Orchestra.
Visitors can see original instruments played by Bix, including the only piano Bix owned. The museum takes the visitor chronologically through the life of Bix Beiderbecke. His music is featured throughout the museum, along with videos, interactive displays, and photos, many shown for the first time. The entire museum evokes the era of the 1920s.
