New Orleans is a city best known for its unique heritage and historical significance. Luckily, it is also a city that is determined to preserve and celebrate its world renowned culture. As the birthplace of jazz and the inspiration for countless artists and musicians, New Orleans has no shortage of museums dedicated to both intriguing tourists and enticing long-time residents.
Whether you're looking to indulge in the art scene or learn more about New Orleans' colorful and sometimes unusual history, there's a museum just for you. From the history of New Orleans Voodoo to the lived Jewish experience in the South, come check out all hidden facets of NOLA life at any one of these celebrated museums.
10 Must See New Orleans Museums
1. New Orleans Museum of Art
1 Collins Dibol Circle, noma.org
The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) may arguably be one of the most well known New Orleans museums from this list. Founded in 1911, NOMA is the oldest arts institution in the city. The museum is currently home to over 40,000 art pieces that are included in its permanent collection, which includes some of the finest pieces of French and American art found in the South.
If this wasn't already impressive enough, NOMA also boasts its 12-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. With over 90 beautiful sculptures set in a carefully curated landscape of lagoons, magnolias, pedestrian bridges, and 200 year-old live oak trees, NOMA's sculpture garden has become one of the most impressive installations of its kind in the United States and is a must-see for locals and tourists alike.
2. National World War II Museum
945 Magazine St., nationalww2museum.org
The World War II Museum, found on Magazine Street, has been designated by the United States Congress as "America's National World War II Museum." Here, you will be able to see first hand the artifacts that have remained from the most notorious war in human history and learn how Americans are still impacted by it to this day.
By utilizing its world class campus of pavilions and exhibitions, the National World War II Museum is a necessary stop for anyone interested in the dynamic history of America and how this infamous war has shaped it.
3. New Orleans Jazz Museum
400 Esplanade Ave., nolajazzmuseum.org
The New Orleans Jazz Museum is a celebration of the rich musical heritage of the city. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the museum offers visitors a comprehensive look at the development and evolution of jazz music, from its earliest roots to its modern-day influence.
The museum's collection includes a wide range of exhibits and artifacts including instruments, sheet music, photographs, and recordings. One of the highlights of the museum is its interactive exhibits, which allow visitors to experience the music of New Orleans firsthand. The Jazz Playhouse is one of the many state-of-the-art performance spaces where visitors can enjoy live jazz performances by local musicians. The museum offers a unique and immersive experience that celebrates the enduring legacy of jazz in New Orleans and beyond.
4. Ogden Museum of Southern Art
925 Camp St., ogdenmuseum.org
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, found in the Warehouse Arts District in downtown New Orleans, holds one of the most extensive collections of art in the South. Known for their educational exhibitions and events, the museum attracts about 85,000 visitors annually.
The museum owes its success to the founding donation of over 600 works of art from philanthropist Robert H. Ogden. Since then, the museum has grown to accumulate over 4,000 works donated from patrons across the United States. Featuring artists such as Walter Anderson, Benny Andrews, Ida Kohlmeyer, and many more, their current collection represents the cultural, artistic, and literary traditions across a range of southern states from Louisiana to Maryland.
5. Contemporary Arts Center
900 Camp St., cacno.org
The Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans is a wonderful museum that aims to showcase the best pieces of modern art the city has to offer. Widely regarded as the flagship establishment of contemporary art throughout the Gulf Coast, the CAC enhances the relationships between artists and communities through public engagement and special events.
In addition to their emphasis on promoting the value of contemporary art, the CAC is also devoted to facilitating conversations around social justice by examining the interaction between art and society. These efforts include youth programs, artist residencies, and more. Of course, there is also the Mr. Wolf Espresso and Books Café located inside the CAC Atrium. If you're interested in diving into the world of contemporary arts or to just relax with some coffee and a good book, the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans has got it all.
6. New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
514 Chartres St., pharmacymuseum.org
The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, located in the Vieux Carré Historic District, is an educational institution dedicated to sharing the rich history of healthcare in Louisiana. This mission is achieved by hosting events and programs detailing people such as Louis J. Dufilho Jr., the first licensed pharmacist in American history.
Those who choose to visit the museum, which is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m, will have the opportunity to go through a self-guided tour with no reservation necessary. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, students, and military members. Finally, to top it off, children 6 and under gain admission to the museum for free.
7. New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
724 Dumaine St., voodoomuseum.com
A small but mighty museum at the heart of the French Quarter, the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum can satisfy the curiosity of any visitor interested in how Voodoo has shaped the culture and heritage of the city. Since its establishment in 1972, the museum has served to educate tourists and New Orleans residents about the history of Voodoo, which includes everything from folklore rituals to zombies.
The museum incorporates multiple events and programs for visitors to enjoy. With museum walkthroughs and cemetery tours, visitors will get the chance to explore all aspects of Voodoo and see everything the museum has to offer. The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum also serves as an excellent resource for academics looking to strengthen their knowledge on the unique folklore traditions of the area. Come join the decades, writers, documentary makers, graduate students, and movie producers who have all visited the museum to glean some insight into the famous Voodoo traditions of New Orleans.
8. The Historic New Orleans Collection
520 Royal St., hnoc.org
The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) serves as a museum, a research center, and a publisher all in one. Since its inception in 1966, THNOC has served the people of New Orleans by hosting insightful exhibitions, publishing original books and articles, and providing a public research center for both teachers and students.
In the past, THNOC's publishing has put out award-winning books exploring all aspects of the city's art and culture. To top it off, its magazine, the Historic New Orleans Collection Quarterly, connects New Orleans history to the museum's current programs. In accordance with the founders' original wishes, admission to THNOC remains free to the public. With three campuses throughout the French Quarter and countless free educational resources, The Historic New Orleans Collection remains an irreplaceable fixture at the heart of the city.
9. Lower 9th Ward Living Museum
5909 St. Claude Ave., leonatatefoundation.org/lower-9th-ward-living-museum
Founded in 2011 under the Leona Tate Foundation For Change, the Lower 9th Ward Living Museum celebrates the neighborhood's unique history. The museum educates visitors by inviting guest speakers from the community to relay oral histories from the region.
Originally built in response to the excruciatingly slow rebuilding of the Lower 9th Ward after Hurricane Katrina, co-founders Dr. Caroline Heldman and Ian Breckenridge-Jackson have since turned their sights towards educating audiences about the often ignored historical significance of this portion of the city. Open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m, come visit the Lower 9th Ward Living Museum to learn about why this area is vital to the overall culture of the city, as well as why it was an important site of progress during the early Civil Rights Movement.
10. Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
818 Howard Ave., msje.org
The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience (MSJE) recognizes the unsung history of Jewish heritage in the American South. Due to the strong and growing Jewish presence in the city, as well as its steady tourism industry, New Orleans was chosen as the perfect location for this museum by a planning committee from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life.
Drawing a crowd of over 30,000 people a year, the MSJE now stands as an important institution for promoting cultural exploration, understanding, and acceptance for people of all cultural backgrounds throughout the South.
New Orleans Has a Museum For All Interests
It should come as no surprise that a city as culturally diverse as New Orleans has countless museums to visit that are dedicated to preserving its art and history. While there are many other options out there for those interested in all museums the city has to offer, the ones highlighted in this list give a great example of just how many different topics and groups are represented throughout the region.
Whether you're interested in the history of jazz music or the Voodoo traditions of Louisiana, New Orleans doubtlessly has a museum that will satiate your curiosity.
