House of Miles East St. Louis (HOME)

About two weeks ago now, the lovely humans (Gary & Lauren) in this photo I took treated us to a beautiful and moving tour through Miles Davis' childhood home. Fitted with important documentation and original artwork from the man himself, the House of Miles is the perfect place to stop by if your ever in East St. Louis. Admittedly I came downstate particularly to research and see the spot itself--we were accomodated at the very last minute.

The tour was very inspiring and one of the guides, Gary, helped me to solidify my understanding of myself as not merely a filmmaker, but a storyteller. He and Lauren are harnessing an important cultural history; and progressing it through the education of children through the gift of music and life--showing children how to raise butterflies and extract honey. It truly is beautiful and they're doing it with a smile.

Peace and love to the both of you!

Please, if you care at all about the history, please stop by this excellent landmark. The highlight was certainly getting to stand inside of Miles' childhood practice room. Enough can't be said.

Our family enjoyed House of Miles East St. Louis. The immersive experience was appropriate for the entire family. The museum was small, but it packed a punch, covering aspects of Miles Davis’ early life that google or previous autobiographies did not. Our host, Lauren Parks was gracious and knowledgeable. We took home a souvenir, some delicious honey, made by the center's own apiary.

Wow! You must get a tour of this amazing gem. Museum/event center/community educuation & enrichment/art gallery. Lauren Parks was an amazing ambassador; she squeezed me & my mom in last minute before we moved my mother to Texas literally the next day (shoutout to Annie P. Clark)

Amazing array of memorbilia, excellent quick film on Miles & his accomplishments as well as art gallery - do not take for granted the level of talent displayed. Beautiful grounds and love the dedication to community events & education.

If you're in the Greater STL metro area you've got to put this on your list - so many amazing ragtime/blues/jazz/rock-n-roll greats have a history in the area and the work that this amazing non-profit has put into preserving this treasure is greatly appreciated.

Thank you again Lauren & Annie.

Sincerely,
Kimberly Barnes
(yep, I'm old - shared email w/ my husband who was holding down the fort here in TX while I helped my Mom move closer to us)

The House of Miles is an awesome museum to learn so much rich history!!! I highly recommend visiting this historical site to learn and be inspired by the legendary Miles Davis and city of East St. Louis. The staff are also super friendly and eager to share so much great information. This museum is a definite must see!!!

The House of Miles East St. Louis is a must visit when visiting the St. Louis area. Just minutes from Downtown St. Louis, the renovation and history spotlighting Miles Davis’ life will inspire any music lover. Leaders of HOME, Lauren and Gary ooze with passion for the city, the music, the history, community giving, love and of course Miles Davis. We brought our homeschool co-op with kids from 6-18. The parents and kids alike thoroughly enjoyed Lauren’s presentation of Miles’ life and history of the house. Upstairs in the home are instruments. The kids came to life when they realized they could play on them!

HOME has a variety of programs that engage the community’s kiddos. From beekeeping to STEAM programs, HOME is doing incredible work!

I wish I could give 10 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Learned so much - the more intimate and lesser known facts of Miles Davis. Overall incredible story and a great tribute to Mr Davis. Lauren was so informative and has a true passion for teaching/educating all while promoting the City of Champions. There’s so much more in store as well- Stay tuned! If you’re in the area it’s a must do!

This was beyond my wildest expectations! Lauren and Jas Gary are amazing! This is is not some staid exhibition of memorabilia, it is an incorporation of the Spirit of this incredible Man. That incorporation is being sent out to the community. Iconoclastic individual ideas are being nurtured by young people who will find their own voices and create a more positive world. Lauren and Jas Gary are Educators of the highest order. . I would encourage all to visit The House Of Miles and experience the incredible work that is happening here. Again, a million thanks to Lauren and Gary……God Bless you both!

A"tiny but mighty" museum. Enjoyed Lauren's passionate guided tour very much. A must visit if you are in town. Museum visit is by appointment only.

House of Miles (HOME) is a brilliant organization in East St. Louis! It's a must visit! Fans of Miles Davis will love the opportunity to embrace the foundations the music icon was rooted in. I was beyond thrilled to get the chance to experience Miles' early life and learn of his connections to his native community. Lauren was my guide and now a person I truly consider a friend! She brings the home to life with her knowledgeability, wisdom, and kindness. Importantly, HOME is committed to enriching the community it serves. I was deeply touched at the efforts of the organization to nourish the community itself, build the awareness/ talents of young people, and serve as an outlet for creative expression!

It truly is a place like no other! I'm extremely grateful for the experience!

This is a wonderful memorial of Miles Davis's life his legacy, family and music. Very glad that people put in the time and effort to save his childhood home from demolition and that it is now a historic site with a great museum! Check it out!

A very fun and educational field trip! The people who work there are fun and energetic. My teen learned things about Miles Davis he'd never heard before and says he hopes to come again sometime and hopes the museum continues to grow.

Lauren has a wealth of information regarding the Miles Davis museum. The early on connection and support from community for Miles is defined in HOME. The display of historical artifacts haunting each room with notes serenading you as you gaze into the mind of a genius. It makes you proud, come see for yourself.

My family and I had the pleasure of touring the former home of Miles Davis in East Saint Louis, IL. My husband and I are both natives, and we wanted our children (who are young adults) to experience something cultural in our hometown. Our youngest son is an up and coming musician and truly enjoyed this; so did our daughter! I would highly recommend that everyone stop by!

Beautiful place that tells the story of Miles Davis, but, more importantly, has a commitment to sharing the promise and realizing the potential of East St. Louis youth that the Miles Davis story shows is possible.

You have done a wonderful job with the home, and you have an even greater vision for its future. I'm excited to see what comes next. Keep up the good work!

A great place to explore the life of an iconic musician and East St. Louis legend! Being in his childhood home adds to the educational component.

Go see it during the day, don’t be a lil bih about East St. Louis, it’s empty. Just mind your business, nobody is gonna hurt you.

What a gem!! So much more than the restored home of Miles Davis. The learning opportunities and inspiration are endless!

Wonderful work has been done to preserve the history of one of the greatest musicians in history. Visit, donate, become part of a movement!

This place should be on the National Historic Site list. The home of a great American composer revered world wide.

What an incredible tribute to an incredible artist and musician! Highly recommend!