The Tastiest Museums in New Orleans

New Orleans Storyville Museum

★★★★★ 4.6 (12)

"There's a new museum in town and if you have any interest in how New Orleans came to embody that "Let the good times roll" philosophy, you must spend a morning or afternoon here. There is a lot to learn and it's all beautifully presented with many visuals so that even if you're not an avid reader, you will still be engaged. And if you love reading everything you encounter in a museum, you will be thoroughly engrossed.More historical than rated X, there is still a strict 18 and over rule. The museum starts with the founding of New Orleans and its lack of "decent" women so France sent on the Casquette Girls. Then you move on to see how the world's oldest profession got its rather boundless hold on different parts of the city until it was contained by Storyville. There's a haunting section of Bellocq photographs. There are video reenactments, my favorite being the one where you have the point of view of a girl in the cribs with passersby looking in and talking to you. There's vintage drug paraphernalia. There are old peep show machines (pretty tame by today's standards). Because I'm a huge nerd, I stood for a while looking at maps outlining the various districts, noting what three buildings are still standing, as well as excerpts from the original blue books. So fascinating.I was enthralled enough to read everything I could. If you do this, plan to spend 90 minutes to 2 hours. If you don't do this, you can probably see everything in a half hour to 45 minutes. This museum is a great place to take a break from the French Quarter and is cool and comfy with benches. Cute little gift shop too!"

Hermann-Grima House

★★★★★ 4.5 (64)

"Was in NOLA for a work trip recently and had some time to do some touring. I was very interested in seeing a historical home and this one hit all the marks. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and painted a very vivid picture on how life used to be for the people who lived in this home along with their slaves. I always thought of slaves in a plantation setting and never in city life. It was great to be able to see where they lived, cooked, did laundry and gain insight on the daily chores etc. the home was lovely and well preserved. There was also a lovely gift shop to browse as well. I truly recommend this tour for any history buffs or anyone wanting to take a glimpse into the past."

Oak Alley Plantation, Restaurant & Inn

★★★★☆ 4 (598)

"The tickets are expensive to visit this plantation at around $28 per person and it is in the middle of nowhere - so you need to drive yourself if you have a car - or you'll book a tour with transportation 1.5 hours each way from New Orleans. We booked a 4.5 hour tour with transport and had 2 hours here to explore and do the tour. The ground are beautiful - the house was OK - the main star of the visit was the gorgeous Oak Alley for which the plantation was named which s about 0.5 miles to walk down some ancient oaks with a framing view of the home. Also, the cafe and restaurant and a nice gift shop were great and service/food at the restaurant was surprisingly good.Our tour of the home lasted about 25 minutes and it was decent - but I heard another guide going into far more detail about slavery and some of the artifacts in the upstairs rooms than we were told... so as with all tours like this of older historic properties, it's hit or miss. I don't think I would recommend this to someone on it's own as I just don't feel it was worth it to spend a half day and 3 hours round trip on a bus to see it. If you have your own car and can explore around or see something else and the other plantations on the same road - that's probably more worth it - but it wasn't something I felt was worth the time away from other things we could've done in the city for a half a day."

Burden Museum & Gardens

★★★★★ 4.8 (12)

"These gardens are beautiful. Nice walking area. Several trails to hike on. Wear good shoes to walk in, bring some water to stay hydrated. There is some play equipment for the children, and lovely labeled gardens. Seriously. This is all so very pretty. Great place to bring visitors on a budget. There always seems to be an event of some sort going on. Lovely spot for a picnic, bring friends and play frisbee, meditate, relax. It is centrally located to a wide variety of hot spots nearby for food, entertainment and shopping. Stop and smell the flowers. You won't regret it."

Kenner Planetarium and Megadome

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"What a wonderful place! In the Rivertown area of Kenner, parking is a lot across the street and street parking. $6 admission for adults with a surcharge if you pay with credit card. The space section of the museum, there is a mockup of the shuttle with a timeline of space travel that is so cool. Visuals of the living space in the space station. The science portion of the museum is cool, but geared to kids. The movie is so nice and present the science in everyday terms. After there is a presentation of how the stars will look on the night of your visit to the planetarium. Everything was well maintained."

1850 House Museum

★★★★☆ 4 (40)

"A quick visit to the 1850 House in the French Quarter offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of an upper-middle-class family in antebellum New Orleans. The 1850 House is part of the Lower Pontalba building. The Pontalba buildings were designed and financed by the Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba. Her father, Don Andrés Almonester y Roxas, was a wealthy Spanish colonial landowner who helped finance The Cabildo, the St. Louis Cathedral and The Presbytère. All of the buildings surround Jackson Square and can easily be visited in an afternoon. The 1850 House, The Cabildo and The Presbytère are all part of the Louisiana State Museum.The tour is a self-guided audio tour. Climb up the stairs to the third floor. The house is furnished with historic era antiques, a set of John Slidell's china, New Orleans silver and paintings. Loved the children's room filled with antique toys. The wreath made from the hair of family members was very unusual.I used a reciprocity pass for admission, which is normally $5. The Museum Store is located as you enter. It has a wide selection of children's books, handmade art, jewelry, pottery and crafts from local Louisiana artists. Grab a bottle of cold Kentwood water from the cooler in the back for $1. Nice for a short tour, but would spend the time at The Cabildo and The Presbytère if you are pressed for time."

Los Islenos Heritage & Cultural Society

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"In the opposite direction of the more favored plantations is this historical museum that remembers the first settlers of this area from the Canary Islands. I came here right before the COVID shutdown of 2020 for a festival they hold annually. It was quite a lovely festival. I knew I wanted to come back for a tour. Fast forward 6 months and I email them asking about tours and precautions. Because I was a party of 1, I was able to come on the weekend. The tour is free, they do ask for a $5 donation for upkeep. The whole tour was very personal and given by someone with deep roots in the area. It was all very lovely. I ended up buying some merchandise, which was all reasonably priced. I would recommend this to anyone looking for something off the beaten path to do."

Crescent City Model Railroad Club

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Great family fun. The kids will love it too. And cheap too! "They even let you run/operate a train with them" They also have a train set up in the meeting room for the kids to run and operate trains just like the (big boy's) do... Will come back again! Look for the open house shows on there website www.ccmrc.com For times and dates. Or call them (504) 773-3723 asw/mach."

Vue Orleans Observation Deck

★★★★★ 4.5 (60)

"I feel this attraction is geared for tourist to get a quick background of NOLA. I enjoyed the interactive displays, but I feel this attraction fell short of my expectations. I would've enjoyed a more detailed history of NOLA and not just a gloss over. The observation deck was ok, but the cafe was really good and the drinks more amazing"

Amistad Research Center

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"You know those lists of "20 Places you must eat in XXX state"! "Sights you must see in XXX state!" Well, when I saw the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail, opened it and saw so many places all over the state that are historical, or current, dedicated to memorializing Unheard or Underheard Voices. This was on the list. It is on the Tulane University campus, so access during the school term and during the week can be tricky. They are a research center dedicated to chronicling the history of minority groups in the United States. They have many programs for outreach to the community, and education for all levels.Only one issue. Because of the pandemic, none of their usual exhibits are currently on display. The lady working when I stopped by was very friendly, taking time to show me what they did have out, explained their mission, and informed me that they hope to open exhibits by appointment in the fall. So why am I writing this review? Because this seems like a great place to support and promote! On the paraphernalia she gave me, it outlines all of the uses of funds and the programs they have. I will definitely update this review after I go back with the impressive exhibits I did see."

Whitney Plantation

★★★★★ 4.7 (388)

"I give Whitney Plantation a 5Plus for its historical, ancestral and mesmerizing value; The slaves who built this place; Their ancestors who had their hand in assisting the curators to keep this place alive in our nations history.You must visit. You must walk the grounds. You must listen intently to the curator's recording. You need to be intentional with your sense of feel, touch. Whitney Planation is a place of reverence."

Katrina National Memorial Museum

★★★★☆ 3.5 (6)

"I came by during the posted open hours on Google Maps and on YELP. The first visit was on a Wednesday at 11:50am and they said they would be back in an hour. I stopped back by on the same Wednesday at 12:25pm and they said they needed five more minutes to be back. I am writing this as I am waiting for them to arrive so I can do a tour. It seems like an interesting place that can be useful.Ok so I got in and was able to take a tour. This is going to represent the affect of Katrina on the city as a whole. The first hand accounts, the acknowledgement that the death toll was higher than the official account. It was so difficult in the immediate aftermath to recognize the entirety of the toll. But it would be nice to have the issues looked back and gone over. Documentation of the deceased of those who traveled to other states from the immediate area should be included as well. They are planning an event for the upcoming 17 year anniversary. Come and support your local grassroots organizations. A little bit can go a long way to help. Empathy. This is a struggle to have the voices heard. There were whole people's and groups that have been silenced in the process of making everything look pretty for the news and the tourists."

LSU Rural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens

★★★★★ 4.5 (32)

"Only came to this area for the nature trails. A series of interconnected trails here. Was refreshing to find some nature. The trail system was very clearly set up. Plenty of signage. Lots of parking. Well cared for trails. Would definitely come back if in the area. Be sure to check the hours if you are wanting to visit! I believe they close the gates and its fairly early in the day."

The Sazerac House

★★★★★ 4.8 (412)

"Best self guided tour ever. And it's free? GTFO! What a great way to spend an hour or so learning about various products and even better, sampling some of the smallest cocktails you'll ever have in your life. Keep in mind the idea isn't to get drunk, but to maybe venture out of your comfort cocktail zone. I think they have a paid cocktail tasting tour/class too, I made a reservation for 12:15p on a Saturday and it was a pretty good time to go. It started getting crowded as the day went on. You basically take the elevator up to the 3rd floor then work your way through a maze of exhibits and move down to the 2nd and 1st floors for more.You'll learn about bitters! And you will crave bitters afterwards! You can smell the various dry ingredients of bitters too. They had some containers that had the various ingredients in their brand of bitters (I don't feel like trying to spell it here).It's also an active distillery, and you can notice the smell as soon as you walk in. I wish they could get THAT smell in a candle! The workers will gladly answer questions about their processes and how it all works. Awesome crew!The gift shop alone is worth stopping in. They might just have something rare if you're lucky and strike out looking for stuff around town. A lot of stuff, you can find at other places too, but it's fun to shop here! Why not leave with a Weller's Hoodie?And if you get the urge to poop, these are probably the nicest bathrooms around! Holy crap (literally). It's also great for number 1 as well! Restrooms on all 3 floors as well, so you can try them all if you had a rough day!I left with a great feeling, I learned a lot about cocktails, and I now have a fondness for a well crafted Sazerac!"

Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes & Culture

★★★★★ 4.5 (101)

"GRAB your reservation for this ahhmazing tour with Carl Mack at Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes & Culture!! This was absolutely THE BEST museum tour and highlight of our trip to New Orleans!!We planned on popping in one day during the week of our November 2021 visit to New Orleans and with the everything as it currently is when we arrived the doors were locked with a note that said you had to book a tour in advance to our disappointment but alas the friendliest man opened the door and asked if we were there for our tour andd my immediate response was whyy YESS we are, with the biggest smile on my face. He matched my grin and said that he could accommodate us since it was just my husband and I to include us in the group that would be hopefully on their way soon with even graciously allowing us to utilize the Yelp Check-in for $2 off our visit - wahooo!!Then we were asked if we would like wait for the others to arrive in the fun costume closet with lots of Mardi Gras costumes to play dress up, take and post selfies! Ummm, heck YES - we had a BLAST and were definitely IN!!The show and exhibits we walked through with the many traditions of Mardi Gras were elaborate and gorgeous - the history that was shared and even the music from Carl Mack made the day extra special. This is an absolute MUST!! Grab your tickets and book your tour today, you absolutely MUST go see these beautiful exhibits, dress up in the costume closet and hear all the history of Mardi Gras.Thank you Carl Mack and Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes & Culture!!"

Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience

★★★★★ 4.8 (26)

"When visiting a new City, I often seek out a local Jewish Museum (or Deli) as I'm drawn to our multi-faceted culture/religion and the associated history. Before visiting NOLA, my last experience was the South Africa Jewish Museum in Johannesburg. And although Gayle would have preferred a visit to the nearby WW2 museum, I deeply appreciate that my dear Wife knows that my Jewish identity is important, especially since October 7. MSJE is a cool little museum that honors the settlement, growth, and life of the Jewish Community in the Southern States. The Museum is easily traversed in about an hour and consists of 3 main sections: Early settlement and life (including small towns), religious objects and practices, and modern influences. Of course there's a Holocaust section, as there is a very interesting one on the Civil Rights era. NOLA is covered well, but I appreciated the regional approach provided. The 8 minute film is also worth your time. My only quibble was the "Women of Valor display that was missing the one and only Florence Kusnetz. MSJE also has a nice gift shop of which I snagged a mezuzah made from a Bourbon barrel and crafted by...the BourbonRabbi. Gayle and I had a fabulous time here and I learned some new things, particularly regarding my previous southern Jewish community experiences in New Orleans, Houston, Baton Rouge, College Station, Austin, and Mobile."

River Road African American Museum & Gallery

★★★★☆ 4.4 (9)

"Review 1200.This is an amazing place! I highly recommend this to anyone remotely interested in the history of people of color in this state. Located out in Donaldsonville, LA in Ascension Parish, the ambassador working comes from a long line of people who have lived in the area for generations, brought here against their will and who have stayed because of the history they have created here. Admission is $5 cash only. The success of the plantations in Louisiana were because of the enslaved. Literal fortune was earned on the literal back of those who had no actual voice, who had no choice. Here they focus on the local plantations in this parish and the lives they affected. It highlights local artists and promotes the artwork.I found out about this from the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail on the state of Louisiana website. Each time I come to a place on that list, I am more amazed. I promise that this is well worth the trip out. Inside these walls tells the stories of a people who have had to overcome so very much. If you are not going to one of the plantations on the Heritage Trail, but going to others, I definitely recommend a visit here to see the other side."

Irish Cultural Museum of New Orleans

★★★★★ 4.7 (34)

"It's a cute little gem we found while visiting, and their whiskey collection in the back is pretty good after you walk through their small museum room. It's different from an extensive museum that will take 2 hours or anything like that. It's a small room. The courtyard is lovely. You can enjoy your drink in that area. The space with the bar also has a few seats. The museum is just a roo. m not very big"

Longue Vue House and Gardens

★★★★★ 4.7 (67)

"This is not your typical plantation house representative of suppressing a large segment of the population. The house that currently on the property, that the house tour is about, was built in the very early 1940's, but is significant because they (the owners) were very philanthropic. After the I was already home, I thought of a question. Under the Code Noir, Jews were not legally allowed to live in the area, and the husbands family was well established in the area, so I wonder the history. Anywho. The house is beautiful. The front entrance is into a circular foyer, and even the door is curved, part of the circle instead of being rectangular and bringing you out of the circle. The air conditioning vents blending in with the designs at the top of walls, the very modern bathrooms for each bedroom, the his and hers restrooms. All very impressive. I would love to come back for each season to see the changes in the gardens and so forth. Just amazing.Another bonus is that this is located on the back edge of the country club, and on the edge of their gold course. I look forward to coming back."

Pontchartrain Conservancy

★★★★★ 4.5 (8)

"Wooo! Love getting an FtR for an historical site. If you've been to sea lighthouses along the Atlantic coast....this is nothing like that. It's short and squat and built in 1838. It guided ships along the lake to the canal that accessed downtown NOLA. For most of my life, it was just kind of there. According to the historical timeline on their website, the lighthouse was owned and in use by the Coast Guard until 1999....I'm not sure about that in use part.But it was one of the many structures damaged in the aftermath of Katrina. It was actually knocked off it's base and landed at an angle. There was a huge fund raising effort to rebuild the lighthouse and the create the education center.When I passed by today, the lighthouse was gated off and closed but it's still pretty to look at from the road...or from the Point. Now I'll just have to make it back to see the inside exhibit."

The National WWII Museum

★★★★★ 4.7

""Only if we have time..." was the general response to whether we were gonna come through or not. Boy, were we all glad we had time to visit! This is one of the best (if not THE best) historical museums I have ever been to! I thought I knew enough about WWII but I learned way more just by going through the self guided tour. Party of four, we bought our tickets, got on the "train ride" and went off from there. Tons to learn about how it all began and how it ended on both the Asian and European fronts. They spared no expense with details. Tons of memorabilia and archives. There were plenty of pictures and films taken during the era open for display. They even had a theater showing first account experiences of those who were actually there. It's sobering and humbling at the same time. I was so immersed in the experience that I didn't realize we'd been here all afternoon - almost close to closing time! We should have come through earlier! But it's definitely a go-to for tourists! Suggest coming through as early as possible. They have a couple of eateries, so grub wouldn't be an issue. Highly HIGHLY recommending!"

Arnaud's Germaine Wells Mardi Gras Museum

★★★★☆ 4 (17)

"This is one of those places that I've heard about for years, but never actually stepped foot in. So I wasn't sure what I was expecting.Yep, it's creepy with so many vintage mannequins looking like they want to come alive and zombify you to join them. (Maybe that's just me though.) The costumes are fabulous and the photos are amazing.BUT the entire collection is starting to crumble. Long term the heavier beaded dresses should not be hanging on mannequins and you can see where the fabric is starting to give. I hope it gets some attention before it's too late.Also shout out to Lindsay for her commentary while we were touring the space and to Michelle who just giggled the whole time at whatever we said. Good times."

Stage Door Canteen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (10) • $$

"I'm really hesitant to write this review now...It was announced a few weeks ago that John Besh would not be continuing his relationship with the WWII Museum and so would not be providing the dinners before the shows at this venue. BUT the change over won't happen until August so...The Stage Door Canteen is just what the name suggests, dinner & a show (or just a show if you like). When I went with my Mom, it was a prix fixe menu with 2 to 3 choices for each (a soup or salad, pork or seafood or chicken, bread pudding or chocolate torte) and 1 free glass of wine. (see my photo for the full menu that we were offered) You can order more wine or a cocktail from the adjoining American Sector and run a tab. I'm not sure if they can make accommodations to dietary needs or not. Dinner service was well paced and I liked that our servers asked if we were ready for our next course to come out. The space is comfortable...until you've sat in the dining chairs all the way through the show, which was mostly a problem for my Mom.My food was mostly OK. My salad was a bit underdressed, my Mom's soup a bit undersalted. She loved her pork entree which was easily twice the size of more lackluster seafood pasta dish. Seriously, why skimp on pasta it's the cheapest item in there. She loved her bread pudding and my chocolate torte was HUGE and delicious and way too much.Then there was the performance (no clinking silverware as the meal was completely cleared, thank goodness). We saw the Rat Pack show and it was really entertaining. Much of the patter seems to have been based on the Live at the Sands album (which I own and know well) but the actors did a nice job of ad-libbing with the audience and customizing it to NOLA. I would definitely come back for a show as those are done in house by the WWII museum. We'll see about dinners in the future with the new company in charge."

Louisiana State Museum - The Presbytère

★★★★☆ 4.4 (122)

"The Presbytère is beautiful building in the French Quarter. It was designed in 1791 by the French-born Gilberto Guillemard to match the Cabildo, or Town Hall, on the other side of the stunning St. Louis Cathedral. All three buildings face Jackson Square. It is beautiful example of formal colonial Spanish architecture with many neo-Renaissance elements.It was originally called the Casa Curial, the Ecclesiastical House, because it was built on the former site of the residence of the Capuchin monks, or Presbytère which means rectory in French. Ironically, this building never housed clergy, but once served as the courthouse of the Louisiana Supreme Court.Today, it is part of the Louisiana State Museum and features permanent exhibits on Hurricane Katrina on the first floor and Mardi Gras Traditions on the second floor. Visit and explore the days leading up to and the aftermath of one of the most devastating natural disasters that has ever hit Louisiana in "Living with Hurricanes: Katrina & Beyond." Eyewitness accounts. Oral histories. Artifacts. News Reports. Charity Hospital Banner. A Daily Diary. Watch footage of the devastation. Read about what happened at the hospitals, the Superdome and why the levees failed. Interactive exhibits and animated maps demonstrate the major levee failures and the progression as New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast were devastated and flooded. From engineering missteps to wetlands loss and coastal erosion from hurricane science to disaster management, the videos are educational and heartbreaking. This contrasts with the display on the second floor which celebrates Mardi Gras and the 150th anniversary of Krewe of Rex and the School of Design. Rex was the first daytime parade in modern Carnival. Interesting to see the origins and timeline. The costumes and gowns from the krewe's kings and queens are so elaborate. Loved seeing the complete sets of royal "rare crown jewels" complete with crowns, scepters and tiaras. "Throw me something mister!!"Take a simulated ride on a Mardi Gras float. Climb the stairs and feel like you are going down Canal or St. Charles Street throwing beads, doubloons, and plastic cups as you pass the crowd eagerly awaiting what you toss from the float. A nice museum to compliment The Cabildo and learn more about the history of New Orleans. Admission is just $7. They do accept NARM reciprocity passes."

American Italian Renaissance Foundation

★★★★★ 4.6 (5)

"All of the parking around here is paid parking. Be aware of your surroundings as there are all sorts of people around. Ring the doorbell and they will eventually let you in. Or someone will walk out allowing you to come in. Admission is $10. They will walk you to the exhibits which is on the third floor. Well laid out and a lot of information. Worth the trip for the visit."

Louisiana Civil Rights Museum

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (3)

"This museum is located in the convention center. It is great for the fast visit. The space is very small. The display is kind of limited. Majority of the display is the 4 black children in the school and protect by marshal. Visit only required 30 minutes. I would said this is a small museum. Clerk is friendly. Entrance requires a small fees."

The Historic New Orleans Collection

★★★★★ 4.7 (89)

"The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum located in the French Quarter that walks through the history and culture of New Orleans. There are a variety of exhibitions with a wide range of topics like New Orleans history, culture, cuisine, and pop culture. The best part: it's free! Some exhibits do cost money but you can see a whole lot without paying anything.One museum that I've never seen before: an augmented reality museum. There was a temporary exhibit about the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral and what it looked like then and what it looks like today. There were 22 stops across the floor and we used a tablet to see its transformation through time, through the fire that occurred on April 15, 2019 and damaged the cathedral, and the subsequent restoration. It was a really unique and interactive exhibit and I really enjoyed it.Besides that there was a small photo gallery about people and places in the French Quarter, a gallery about the history of the geography of New Orleans, and New Orleans in pop culture such as the film A Streetcar Named Desire.This was a high quality museum which was surprising given that it was free because I could totally see people happily paying for admission. Between all the exhibits we spent two hours which I think was time well spent."

Southern Food & Beverage Museum

★★★★☆ 4.2 (88) • $

"Fun place to check out on your day off and learn about foods and drinks of the Great American South! At first I thought that only Louisiana was it's focus, but lo! The museum highlights all southern states' traditions, native fruits/veggies and landmarks known for dishing up local delicacies. The displays are wonderfully engaging and eye catching and there is plenty to absorb. The only complaint is that this place could use a THOROUGH dusting. Dead flies and a thick layer of grime on all the surfaces. I understand that non profits are usually strapped for cash so at least open a volunteer opportunity to clean once a month, will ya?SOFAB also boasts the largest collection of absinthe memorabilia in the country as well as a fully operational bar so you can sip on a sazerac or old fashioned while perusing the displays!"

Saints Hall of Fame Museum

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"A fitting tribute to our Black & Gold. The museum is located at Gate B on the plaza level and is open three hours before each home game until thirty minutes afterwards. Free during home games with a ticket to the game. There is a charge if you go during the week. The Hall of Fame museum announces new inductees each spring and holds induction ceremonies in the fall. This year Sammy Knight is the lone inductee.I love the Hall of Honors and the Evidence Room (to prove to us Who Dats who are still amazed that we won the Super Bowl). They also show footage of highlights from every season which is a bonus for those that never want to forget the past.Check out the museum before the game next time you go. Worth going to the Dome early!"

Beauregard-Keyes House and Garden

★★★★★ 4.6 (37)

"Books, Murder, Civil War Veterans and a Prodigy Chess Master. The story of the Beauregard-Keyes House is a twisted tale. We were lucky to have a retired New Orleanian architect, Robert, as the docent who really brought the history of this restored gem to life. Originally slated to be the site of a weapons arsenal, the Ursuline nuns used this property from the early 1700s as a garden until Joseph Le Carpentier had an architect from Baltimore and a free person of color from New Orleans design and build his home in 1825. Le Carpentier's grandson was Paul Morphy, the prodigy world-famous chess champion, who was found dead in his bath tub at age 39, possibly from a heat stroke. Le Carpentier sold the property to the Swiss Consul John Merle whose wife built a garden as an addition. Most likely, the garden allowed families a reprieve from the nasty sanitation smell of the French Quarter. The property then changed hands several times until it was bought by a grocer in the French Quarter, Dominique Lanata, as investment property. His first tenant, Civil War General P.G.T Beauregard, was one of the most famous residents. Although he only rented here for 18 months, this building carries his name.The next owner, the Giacona family, moved here in 1904. They were in the "wholesale liquor business." A rival sect of the mafia, the Sicilian Black Hand Mafia, felt that the Giacona family was infringing on their business. During a "dinner" meeting, three or four members of the Black Hand were assassinated during or shortly after that meal on the back porch. Pietro and Corrado Giacona were arrested and charged, but their case was dismissed eventually on the grounds of self-defense and "service" to the community. In 1925, the property was auctioned off and the new owner threatened to tear down the home and turn the property into a macaroni factory unless preservationists rescued the home. Although sold, the home fell into disarray and was used as a refuge for homeless men and by Alcoholic Anonymous. In 1945, author Frances Parkinson Keyes was looking for a place to write and live in New Orleans. She stumbled onto the property and spent the next 25 years restoring the historic gem to its Victorian roots and writing novels. She was an avid collector and her collection of veillsuses (a teapot that also has a cup and a night light) is the second largest in the world. She had an eclectic group of friends which are featured in her photographs, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, restaurateur Ella Brennan, and old Hollywood elite. She was able to add furniture from the Beauregard family due to her friendship with P.G.T. Beauregard's granddaughter. Although the home is not the fanciest historic home that I have toured, Robert was one of the best tour guides. His one hour tour was so entertaining and he was quite honest and passionate about past. We used our NARM reciprocity passes for entry. Tours occur every hour and are $10 without a pass. To enter, ring the doorbell. Someone will answer, eventually."

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum

★★★★☆ 3.9 (66)

"I seem to be picking up a whole bunch of Confederate sites lately but I'm visiting through the South and, well, they were part of the Confederacy. I'm not really a fan of the CSA, but I am a fan of history and this is all about history and a very important part of the history of the USA.This hall is a tremendous collection of Confederate memorabilia, including uniforms, maps, weapons, recovered bullets, coins, battle flags and personal possessions. The museum is densely packed but it's all viewable and very interesting.Plan for an hour or two at last. More if you're planning on reading it all. There's a lot.Gift shop has replicas of some items for sale as well as postcards and the like.Tip: Consider heading over to Biloxi for the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library, https://www.yelp.com/biz/beauvoir-jefferson-davis-shrine-biloxi-3?hrid=BWsZt2A-u_ExRjKPtx8scQ.[Review 14215 overall, 1537 of 2020, number 34 in Louisiana.]"

German American Cultural Center

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"Did you know that there is a German American Cultural Center right in the heart of Gretna? Did you know that it is the official German cultural center of the State of Louisiana?My salon is right across the street and since I had some free time after my appointment, I stopped in here to see what this center was all about. It's pretty small and there were no other "customers" when I went. When I walked in, the man working came out from the back and turned on all of the display lights and the German music as I walked around the place.Here you will not only learn the history about the German people who settled Gretna, but you will learn about their contributions to New Orleans as well as well as the entire Gulf Coast Region. There are interesting things like beer labels and steins on display and there are a couple of videos you can watch, as well. I found the entire experience really interesting and I was able to learn a few things on an otherwise unproductive afternoon.The tour is self guided and free and they also have computers if you want to do family research."

Museum of Death

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (425)

"I'm into horror movies, true crime and yeah this museum is basically my thing. My hubs luckily is the same way (alright maybe not as much lol) and my son is used to being dragged places like this. They warned me oh death photos etc which my son would not care about lol. After a long morning of a bunch of stuff we already did, my son just wanted a break and mcdonalds, so instead of just letting mommy & daddy look he flipped out. Which I felt horrible because I'm like omg all these people probably think my son is flipping cause he's terrified and I'm scarring him for life lol. I was like he's not flipping out cause he's scared! Like we would never force our 5 year old boy into anything terrifying for him lol, he just wanted his mcdonalds. Anyway my hubs finally gave in and was like let me just take him out to the car. So I was able to walk around and look at everything by myself in peace. I still kick myself for totally forgetting when we were in Los Angeles to go to the one there. If you're into this stuff I highly recommend you stop by. I had just finished the series Dahmer so that was interesting to see the real letters etc things from jail, little section dedicated to him. Plus when you first walk in, our own serial killer (from NY) son of Sam starts off the exhibit. I got no pictures outside and you can't take any inside so anyone I tell I went here is like wait you did go? :P"

Jackson Barracks Military Museum

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"How I almost got detained by the government, and not because of the coronavirus!Took a long bus ride from the edge of the French Quarter to visit the Jackson Barracks Military Museum in the Ninth Ward, an area not recommended to outsiders, let alone tourists. Hours 10am-4pm Monday-Saturday. The museum is located on the premises of the Jackson Barracks, a military base. Only personnel with a valid up to date government issued ID with picture are allowed entry. When I first came, I didn't have my latest ID, and was turned away. Came back 2 hours later with a Global Entry card, and after being documented, was allowed entry onto the base. The Jackson Barracks Military Museum depicts the history of the Louisiana Militia and National Guard from early 1700s colonial settlements to 21st century deployments. Replicas of soldiers in uniform from the early 1700s, a British cannon used at the Battle of New Orleans, Civil War cannons, a Spanish American War deck gun of the USS New Orleans, a 1917 Cadillac staff car, a French Renault Tank, Stuart Light Tank, a Norden Bombsight. the cockpit of an F-4 Phantom Jet, a Huey red cross helicopter used in Vietnam, a Humvee in Desert Storm camouflage, and Hurricane Katrina rescues in 2005. Photography is allowed only inside the museum. Unlike in previous years, no pictures allowed outside, as military on heightened alert status, following assassination of top Iranian general in January. Stan,the museum curator, was kind enough to donate some his time to escort me outside to take pictures of the numerous armored equipment, including a WW2 M4 Sherman tank, an M113 armored personnel carrier, an Iraqi Zeus quad 23mm anti aircraft battery, a WW2 90 mm skyscraper anti aircraft gun, an M47 Patton Tank, a an M48 tank used in Vietnam, and a WW2 P61 Black Widow twin engine night fighter. All pictures taken so that none of the surrounding buildings were showing. An abundance of military tanks, armored personnel carriers, anti tank guns, anti aircraft guns, tank destroyers not seen in the WW2 Museum in downtown New Orleans. Made it safely back to the French Quarter, after taking a long bus ride through the ninth ward, with vacant lots, and boarded up buildings. Not your normal tourist visit."

new orleans fire department and museum

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"I had found this place while searching for small museums and stopped by on a weekday only to realize that since the COVID, they only do tours by appointment per the instructions on the door. If you fill out a request on nola.gov/nofd/contact-us/ and provide all of the pertinent information, they will get back to you very quickly to schedule a tour. Parking is street parking only. The gentleman who did the tour has been in the fire department for over two decades, has a wealth of information in his head. There is the very first ever "fire truck" here and several iterations therein. The entire tour was very engaging, entertaining and informative. I came on this tour alone, but this would be good for large groups as well. Quite the amazing place. Free to tour, just must schedule in advance. I highly recommend this."