New Orleans Museums

(New Orleans, Louisiana - LA, USA)

New Orleans is home to a wide variety of fascinating museums, covering a range of subject matters and reflecting the city's colorful and diverse history. While it is popularly known as a party town, the city of New Orleans is also proud of its heritage and the role it has played in protecting and contributing to a fledging nation, not to mention its cultural legacies of voodoo and Cajun cuisine, as well as the history of its diverse population and its strong African American, Native American, Creole and French connections.

The museums in New Orleans are especially concentrated in the French Quarter and Warehouse District. Particularly interesting is the Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum, which was established in 1983 and is filled with carnival memorabilia, boasting more than 25 of the most elaborate Mardi Gras costumes.

Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World

Address: 233 Newton Street, Algiers, Louisiana LA, 70114, USA
Tel: +1 504 361 7821
This establishment is a historical attraction and workshop combined, as well as being one of the world's largest float builders. The Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World offers interactive exhibits and the chance to try on some costumes. There are also tours of the workshop, giving you the chance to see sculptors and floats up close.
Open hours: daily - 09:30 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors and children, children under three free

Confederate Museum

Address: 929 Camp Street, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70130, USA
Tel: +1 504 523 4522
The Confederate Museum opened in 1891 and is the oldest museum in the whole of Louisiana. It is home to one of the best and most exhaustive collections of Civil War memorabilia in the world. Highlights include a number of original battle flags and soldiers' uniforms, various weapons and rare photographs.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students, seniors and children under 12

Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum

Address: Arnaud's Restaurant, 813 Bienville Street, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70112, USA
Tel: +1 504 523 5433
Contains colorful displays of gowns, costumes and memorabilia related to New Orleans' famous annual Mardi Gras parades. Located above Arnaud's Restaurant, highlights at the Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum include the oldest costume in the exhibit, a 1939 gown worn by Germaine Wells, queen of 22 Mardi Gras balls between 1937 and 1968.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Historic New Orleans Collection

Address: 533 Royal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70130, USA
Tel: +1 504 523 4662
Spread throughout four exquisite 18th and 19th century buildings in the French Quarter and connected by a common courtyard, the collection houses historical artifacts and artworks that document the city's history as well as temporary exhibitions. It is possible to explore the 1889 residence of the museum's founders, General and Mrs. L. Kemper Williams.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 09:30 to 16:30, Sunday - 10:30 to 16:30
Admission: free

Jackson Barracks and Military Museum

Address: 6400 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70146, USA
Tel: +1 504 278 8242
Planned by Andrew Jackson himself and built in the mid-1830s, the barracks are now home to the Louisiana National Guard and an extensive military museum, housing artifacts from the War of 1812, Spanish Colonial War, WWII and other conflicts.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Louisiana State Museum

Address: 751 Chartres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70116, USA
Tel: +1 504 568 6968
This attraction is actually spread over five historic buildings in the French Quarter and houses extensive displays of local history and cultural heritage. The Old US Mint is home to the popular New Orleans Jazz exhibit where you can see Louis Armstrong's first trumpet as well as other instruments, sheet music and memorabilia. The Presbytere at the Louisiana State Museum houses an excellent exhibition on the state's famous carnival tradition, while the Cabildo forms the major portion, with detailed exhibitions on diverse aspects of Louisiana's history, including music, immigrants and burial customs.
O: Tuesday to Sunday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students, seniors and active military, children under 12 free

Musée Conti Wax Museum

Address: 917 Conti Street, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70112, USA
Tel: +1 504 525 2605
The Musée Conti Wax Museum houses wax figures of all famous locals such as Andrew Jackson, Marie Laveau, Louis Armstrong, Napoleon, Jean Lafitte and Huey Long, together with historical descriptions and biographies. This is also a great place to escape the heat.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - noon to 17:30
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors and children, children under four free

National D-Day Museum

Address: 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70130, USA
Tel: +1 504 527 6012
One of the city's newest museums, swinging its doors open in 2000, it is nevertheless found in a historic building dating back to 1856. This is without question one of the most impressive attractions of its kind, documenting all 19 US amphibious missions on D-day. Plenty of artifacts are on display, as well as personal stories from soldiers.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors and children, children under five free

Voodoo Museum

Address: 724 Dumaine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70130, USA
Tel: +1 504 523 7685
Although highly commercial and catering mainly for tourists, the museum offers a good way for visitors to learn the basics of voodoo culture, customs and history. Run by people involved in voodoo, there are plenty of occult objects on display, as well as psychic readings by a voodoo priestess. Gris-gris bags, dolls and other souvenir items are for sale.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 20:00
Admission: charges, discounts for seniors, children and military