Top 10 New Orleans Museums
New Orleans has a long and layered history, full of museums that tell its stories in different ways. This list highlights 10 museums that are worth visiting if you want to see and understand more of what makes New Orleans unique.
1. The National WWII Museum
945 Magazine St., (504) 528-1944
The National WWII Museum is one of New Orleans' most visited attractions, drawing people from around the world to explore the history of World War II up close. It stands on a six-acre campus in the Warehouse District and houses an array of immersive exhibits, including a restored C-47 aircraft, a PT-305 patrol torpedo boat, and a Sherman tank.
The museum recently added the Liberation Pavilion, a powerful three-story exhibit covering the war's aftermath, including a simulated concentration-camp bunk room, a recreation of Anne Frank's hiding space, and a violin made by a U.S. prisoner of war. It has earned national recognition, including TripAdvisor's "Travelers' Choice Best of the Best" award in 2024, and highlights diverse stories through rotating exhibits such as "Fighting for the Right to Fight," which focuses on African American experiences in WWII.
2. New Orleans Museum of Art
One Collins C. Diboll Circle, (504) 658‑4100
Nestled within City Park, the New Orleans Museum of Art serves as the city's oldest and most comprehensive fine‑arts institution, captivating visitors with an encyclopedic collection exceeding 40,000 works, from European masters such as Monet, Degas, and Picasso to photography, glass, African art, and Japanese art.
Just beyond the grand white‑columned facade lies the 11‑acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, where over 90 modern and contemporary sculptures rest among live oaks, lagoons, and winding paths, a peaceful and iconic complement to the galleries. NOMA also invites Louisiana residents inside for free every Wednesday as part of its "Art for All" initiative.
3. Ogden Museum of Southern Art
925 Camp St., (504) 539‑9650
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art offers the most expansive and comprehensive collection of Southern art in the nation, spanning more than 4,000 paintings, photos, sculptures, and crafts by artists from 15 Southern states and the District of Columbia.
Its two wings include the late‑19th‑century Patrick F. Taylor Library and the modern, five‑story glass and stone Stephen Goldring Hall. Visitors experience an ever‑evolving blend of permanent displays and rotating exhibits, such as "Southern Contemporary," featuring recent works by Southern artists, and the annual "Louisiana Contemporary," spotlighting local artistic innovation.
4. Historic New Orleans Collection
533 Royal St., (504) 523‑4662
Located in the heart of the French Quarter, The Historic New Orleans Collection is a free museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to preserving the rich history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South through museum exhibitions, scholarly research, and published works.
The institution showcases permanent and rotating exhibitions like the Louisiana History Galleries, French Quarter Galleries, and community‑focused presentations such as "The Trail They Blazed" and "French Quarter Life." With over a million items in its holdings, the Collection invites both casual visitors and researchers to uncover New Orleans' layered stories at no admission cost.
5. New Orleans African American Museum
1417‑1418 Governor Nicholls St., (504) 218‑8254
The New Orleans African American Museum preserves and elevates the contributions of people of African descent to New Orleans and Louisiana culture, spanning eras from slavery to the present day.
Inside, standout exhibits include the Louisiana‑Congo: the Bertrand Donation, featuring African beadwork, costumes, masks, textiles, and musical instruments that draw parallels between Congolese everyday life and Louisiana folk traditions. Open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the museum is part of the state's Louisiana African American Heritage Trail and offers a meaningful, accessible exploration of New Orleans' rich Black heritage.
6. Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
818 Howard Ave., (504) 384‑2480
Nestled in the Arts District just blocks from the National WWII Museum, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience explores the rich and often overlooked history of Jewish life across 13 Southern states, spanning more than 300 years of settlement, adaptation, and cultural influence.
It presents more than 4,000 artifacts, including Judaica, household items, business records, photographs, letters, and heirlooms. Since opening its doors in 2021 inside a renovated 1916 building, the museum has earned accolades such as the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities' Museum Exhibition of the Year, Southeastern Museums Conference Gold Medals, and USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Award for New Attractions.
7. SOFAB
1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., (504) 569‑0405
Located in the historic Dryades Market District, the Southern Food & Beverage Museum serves as the flagship for the National Food & Beverage Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the discovery, understanding, and celebration of food and drink across the nation.
SoFAB includes the Museum of the American Cocktail, the SoFAB Research Center, the Deelightful Roux School of Cooking, the National Culinary Heritage Register, the Culinary Heritage Sign Gallery, the Gumbo Garden, and the Nitty Grits Media Network. Beyond exhibitions, SoFAB supports culinary entrepreneurship through a certified commercial kitchen and Culinary Innovation Center.
8. New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
514 Chartres St., (504) 490‑6263
The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum occupies the 1823 home and apothecary of Louis J. Dufilho Jr., America's first licensed pharmacist, and showcases the nation's largest collection of pharmaceutical memorabilia. From apothecary bottles and Voodoo potions to medical instruments and surgical tools, the museum offers a vivid look at 19th century pharmacy practice.
The two‑story Creole townhouse includes a recreated courtyard herb garden as well as a physician's study, bringing its historical medical care to life for visitors. Guests can explore on their own or opt for a guided tour, both offering an immersive experience that highlights the early lifestyle of pharmacy practice.
9. Backstreet Cultural Museum
1531 St. Philip St., (504) 657‑6700
Located in the Tremé neighborhood, the Backstreet Cultural Museum preserves New Orleans' African American processional traditions such as Mardi Gras Indians, jazz funerals, second line parades, the Baby Dolls, and Skull & Bone gangs. Founded by lifelong cultural documentarian Sylvester Francis in his garage and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1999, the museum now houses one of the world's most comprehensive collections of costumes, photographs, artifacts, films, and videos, including Mardi Gras Indian regalia and footage of more than 500 cultural events.
Beyond its notable exhibits, the museum remains an active cultural hub, hosting annual ceremonies such as the White Buffalo Day procession, offering outreach through performances and publications, and drawing both locals and visitors to experience New Orleans' resilient spirit.
10. Storyville Museum
1010 Conti St., (504) 429‑9366
Located at 1010 Conti St. in the French Quarter, the New Orleans Storyville Museum is a 7,000-square-foot institution dedicated to telling the history of the city's red-light district, which operated legally from 1897 to 1917. Exhibits use multimedia, artifacts, and recreations to explore Storyville's social history, its role in shaping early jazz, and the lives of the women who worked there.
Visitors follow a numbered, self-guided format that takes one to two hours to complete, with all printed and audio materials in English. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last admission at 5:15 p.m., the museum is restricted to adults 18 and older, though visitors ages 13-17 may enter with a parent or guardian.
Best Museums in New Orleans
From art and history to local traditions and everyday life, these museums cover a wide range of topics. No matter what you're interested in, there's likely a museum in New Orleans that will catch your attention and give you a better sense of the city and its people.
