New Orleans museums are many and varied, whether its art, history, war or hurricanes, New Orleans probably has a museum for you. For the children we have the awesome New Orleans Children's museum. For the Word War II enthusiast there is no match for the New Orleans World War II Museum. For the art lover we have the Ogden Museum and the New Orleans Museum of Art. For the history buff we have the Confederate Museum, the Cabildo Museum and the Historic New Orleans Collection Museum. If you are interested in hurricane Katrina then a visit to the Presbytère Museum in the French Quarter is a must.
New Orleans Museums
The Cabildo Museum * French Quarter at Jackson Square
While you are exploring New Orleans museums I recommend that you visit the Cabildo Museum on Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Built in 1799 the Cabildo is the premier historical attraction in New Orleans and a great place to explore 200 years of Louisiana history, art and culture. The Cabildo was the site of the Louisiana Purchase ceremonies in 1803 and the room where the signing took place has been reproduced as it appeared on that day. The Cabildo�s three floors of exhibits are basically divided into the following chronological sections: Native Americans * Colonial Louisiana * The Louisiana Purchase * Territory to Statehood * The Battle of New Orleans * Antebellum Louisiana * The Civil War * Reconstruction. The Cabildo Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. 10 am - 4:30 pm. Closed all legal holidays. For more information about the New Orleans Cabildo museum call (504) 568-6968 
The Presbyt�re Museum * French Quarter at Jackson Square
The Presbyt�re museum is an important historical building in New Orleans and is located in the French Quarter along Jackson Square, to the right of the St. Louis Cathedral. The Presbyt�re was designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo on the other side of St. Louis Cathedral. The second floor, however, was not completed until 1813. The building initially was used for commercial purposes until 1834 when it was used by the Louisiana Supreme Court. In 1847 the structure's mansard roof was added. In 1853, cathedral officials sold the Presbyt�re to the city and in 1908 the city sold it to the state. In 1911 it became part of the Louisiana State Museum.
The first floor exhibit at the Presbyt�re museum is �Living with hurricanes � Katrina & beyond�. This exhibit offers an unforgettable look at the power of hurricanes and covers the settling of New Orleans, hurricane Betsy in 1965, hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. For the hurricane Katrina portion of the exhibit there are several sections; during the storm with awesome video footage; rescue efforts; chaos after the storm; rebuilding New Orleans after the storm; and an interactive exhibit about the effects of coastal erosion on the Louisiana marsh and the Crescent City. For additional hurrican Katrina information and pictures visit my Hurricane Katrina page.
Upstairs at the Presbyt�re museum is a Mardi Gras exhibit. Elaborate costumes, colorful floats and many other items capture the fun and frivolity of the Mardi Gras celebration while presenting an authentic history of Carnival in New Orleans through the years.
For more information about the New Orleans Presbyt�re museum call (504) 568-6968
Visit the 1850 House Museum * French Quarter at Jackson Square
The 1850 House is a historic house museum located in the Lower Pontalba Building along the side of Jackson Square in the French Quarter. The 1850 House was built between 1849 and 1851 by the Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, the elegant townhouses flanking Jackson Square still serve their original purpose with private apartments above ground-floor shops. The 1850 House museum is the only Pontalba apartment open to the general public. The State Museum has furnished the apartment to the style and tastes of a prosperous merchant family in antebellum New Orleans, the museum is a showcase for furniture and decorative arts. The Museum gift shop, operated by the Friends of the Cabildo, is located in the 1850 House.
Visit the Historic New Orleans Collection Museum * French Quarter
The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to the study and preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South region. Located in the French Quarter the museum is housed in the Merieult House at 533 Royal Street which was built in 1792. The museum has both permanent and changing exhibitions. The museum shop features Louisiana books, prints, and specialty gift items.
New Orleans National World War II Museum * Warehouse District
A visit to the New Orleans World War II Museum is a must, especially if you are a World War II enthusiast. The Museum honors the more than one million Americans who were part of World War II. It explains the American involvement in the war, what led the United States into World War II, and how the war was won. You will want to allow AT LEAST 3 hours for your visit. The National World War II Museum host many activities and ongoing events. Check the museum’s Events page for dates and times. The Museum is open seven days a week, 9am to 5pm, but closed on some holidays. You will want to check the National World War II Museums web site for details. The National World War II Museum is located in the New Orleans Central Business District on the corner of Andrew Higgins and Magazine Street. The St. Charles Street streetcar will take you within one block of the World War II Museum. 
The Louisiana Civil War Museum * Warehouse District
The Louisiana Civil War Museum (Memorial Hall) contains the second largest collection of Confederate memorabilia in the United States and is the oldest continually operating museum in Louisiana. Memorial Hall is dedicated to the preservation of Civil War memorabilia, specifically related to the South and Louisiana. Memorial Hall contains thousands of Civil War artifacts on site. As many as one thousand of these items are on display at any one time. You will find battle flags, artifacts from the Confederate Infantry, Calvary, and Artillery. Memorial Hall is proud to display the personal artifacts of Confederate artilleryman, including many items from the famous Washington Artillery, the premier artillery unit of the Civil War. The Civil War Museum is located at 929 Camp Street which is right across the street from the WWII Museum and next door to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. All three are in the historic Warehouse District and just one block off of the St. Charles Street car line.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art * Warehouse District
The Ogden Museum is home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southern Art in the world. Here you will find the story of the South as told through its art, music and education programs. The Museum's holdings include Southern artworks from Washington, D.C. and 15 Southern states spanning the 18th-21st centuries, and include paintings, prints, watercolors, photographs, ceramics, sculpture, crafts and design. The Museum Store which is open during museum hours, is a destination in itself. The Ogden Museum is located at 925 Camp Street which is right across the street from the WWII Museum and next door to the Civil War Museum. All three are in the historic Warehouse District and just one block off of the St. Charles Street car line.
Explore the New Orleans Children's Museum * Warehouse District
The Louisiana Children's Museum is New Orleans' most playful place for children and families to discover just how fun learning can be! Pilot a tow boat down the Mighty Mississippi. Shop until you drop in the Little Sav-A-Center grocery store then anchor the news in the WWL-TV KidWatch Studio. The Louisiana Children's Museum is located at 420 Julia Street in the historic Warehouse District and their phone number is 504-523-1357.
Visit the New Orleans Museum of Art * Mid City
The New Orleans Museum of art, the city’s oldest fine arts institution, is located at 1 Collins Diboll Circle in the New Orleans City Park. You will need your own transportation to get there and once you are there I am sure that you will enjoy City Park and the museum. The Museum is home to a collection of more than 40,000 objects with a value of about $200 million. The collection consists of European paintings and sculpture form the 16th through 20th centruries; French and American art, photography, and glass; Asian, African, Oceanic, Pre-Columbian, and Native American art. In addition, the Museum hosts a wide range of captivating special and traveling exhibitions. For more information, to view current or upcoming exhibitions, or to see a calendar or events for the Museum, visit the New Orleans museum of Art website. The New Orleans museum of Art is about 5 miles from the French Quarter. You can take the Canal Streetcar City Park/Museum streetcar to the museum; it is the last stop at the end of the North Carrollton Avenue spur line. When you get off the streetcar the museum is about a 5 minute walk.
New Orleans African American Museum * Historic Tremé Neighborhood
Located in Tremé, the oldest surviving black community in the United States, the New Orleans African American Museum is dedicated to protecting, preserving, and promoting through education the history, art, and culture of African Americans in New Orleans and the African diaspora. Exhibits change regularly, so call ahead to find out what is on display. The Museum is housed in the beautiful Tremé Villa, 1418 Governor Nicholls St, considered by some to be one of the finest examples of a Creole villa in the city. Built in 1828-29, the home retains many of its original decorative details. There are five restored buildings to visit. Visitors enjoy both established and emerging artists' work in sculpture, painting and other artistic expressions. The mission of the New Orleans African American Museum is to preserve, interpret and promote the African American cultural heritage of New Orleans, with a particular emphasis on the Tremé community.
Old U.S. Mint Museum * 400 Esplanade Avenue
The Old U.S. Mint museum is a massive Greek revival structure that was built in 1835 and served as a U.S. Mint until 1909 and as a Confederate mint during the Civil War. The museum is the only mint to produce American and Confederate coinage. Minting began in 1838 and continued until Louisiana seceded from the Union in 1861. Afterwards, the mint was transferred to the Confederacy and used to mint Confederate coinage and house troops. After the Civil War, the mint resumed full operations and was the only southern mint to reopen after the war. In 1909, minting ceased and the building was used for a number of official purposes until it was transferred to the state in 1966. In 1981, the mint opened to the public as a State museum site.
On the ground floor of the museum exhibits feature historic coin-making equipment and rare gold and silver coins minted here.
The museums upper floors are devoted to Louisiana�s rich musical heritage and you will hear live music nearly every day and many evenings. Most events are free as part of the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.
For more information about the New Orleans Old U.S. Mint museum call (504) 568-6968
