The Historic New Orleans Collection

Carefully put together collection of New Orleans history! A street car named Desire pieces are on display here as well as one of the last functioning home organs in America! They have an interactive map when you walk in that has a free downloadable app for walkable DIY tour routes of the city for various things! (Movie locations/ famous people/drinking tours etc..) There's an excavated well in the center courtyard that shows you the water level in NOLA in real time! Gift Shop was full of handmade pieces from local artists and wasn't just another tourist trap!

A gorgeous museum with rotating special exhibits (I saw one discussing the history of benevolent societies like the Odd Fellows in Freemasons in New Orleans for both white and black citizens throughout the years). The broader museum has a concise but interesting look at New Orleans' history, architecture, culture, and so much more. Free to enter, but definitely donate when you're finished!

ThIf you weren’t looking for this museum, you could easily pass it by walking down Royal Street, and that would be a real shame. The Historic New Orleans Collection is such a high-quality, engaging, fantastic museum!! And, it’s free! The exhibit on the history of New Orleans/the French Quarter was so fascinating to learn about. There was also a special exhibit on democracy and elections in the US, which was very interesting and well-done. The museum guide, Winston, was so kind and knowledgeable!! We had some really nice conversations about the citizenship test and election history in America. Due to various scheduling reasons, I wasn’t able to spend as much time here as I’d have liked, but will definitely plan accordingly if I’m able to visit the city again! Make sure to add this place to your sightseeing list!

Absolutely worth the visit to gain a lot of knowledge on the history of New Orleans. Very beautiful exhibits and floors with a ton of artifacts around a multitude of categories. Best of all, admission is free, although there may be an additional cost for special exhibits. There are even guides who can help answer questions and provide context. If you walk by, consider stopping in. Their gift shop is also great!