NEW ORLEANS MUSEUMS
In a city known for its historic architecture, massive construction cranes have become a regular feature in the downtown skyline. In the last decade, that's meant one of two things: new hotels and museums. The two types of projects are complementing each other well as new high profile museums have opened Downtown and are attracting widespread attention. The blocks between Poydras Street and the interstate were mostly filled with crumbling brick warehouses 20 years ago. But since the 1984 World Fair, the neighborhood developed into a cluster of art galleries, lofts and restaurants. The largest art space was the Contemporary Arts Center but it has since been joined by museums making national headlines. The National D-Day Museum opened in 2001 and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art opened in August of 2003. There are even more major projects in the works.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art (925 Camp Street, 504-539-9600)
Based around the donated collection of Roger Ogden, the Ogden Museum features the largest collection of Southern art on public display. Collections include roughly 3,000 pieces from the 18th to 21st century in all mediums. New Orleans artists are well represented. The displays in the five-story museum change regularly. The current special exhibitions include early William Eggleston photography, a show of contemporary Southern masters, and a show of recent acquisitions. The Ogden Museum was in the planning for almost ten years. The high profile location just off Lee Circle includes three wings with the second two due for completion in the coming year. Read more about The Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Based around the donated collection of Roger Ogden, the Ogden Museum features the largest collection of Southern art on public display. Collections include roughly 3,000 pieces from the 18th to 21st century in all mediums. New Orleans artists are well represented. The displays in the five-story museum change regularly. The current special exhibitions include early William Eggleston photography, a show of contemporary Southern masters, and a show of recent acquisitions. The Ogden Museum was in the planning for almost ten years. The high profile location just off Lee Circle includes three wings with the second two due for completion in the coming year. Read more about The Ogden Museum of Southern Art
The National D-Day Museum (945 Magazine St., 504-527-6012)
When the National D-Day Museum opened on June 6, 2001, it was heralded by the largest military parade in the United States since the end of World War II. The museum has made a particular point of honoring veterans and having them on hand to share their stories. The museum features state of the art interactive displays following the history of U.S. troops landing on beaches in North Africa, Normandy and the South Pacific. The reason for the focus, and thus the reason the museum is in New Orleans, is the Higgins boat. Named for local entrepreneur Andrew Jackson Higgins, the special boats were developed for logging work in the swamps. But he converted them to a type of troop landing ship. The military eventually bought more than 20,000 boats from Higgins and his New Orleans factories. President Dwight Eisenhower's biographer, historian Stephen Ambrose, launched the project and eventually drew major financial support from Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg. But now veterans are stars of the museum and several are usually on hand next to the last Higgins boat to share their experiences. Read more about The National D-Day Museum
When the National D-Day Museum opened on June 6, 2001, it was heralded by the largest military parade in the United States since the end of World War II. The museum has made a particular point of honoring veterans and having them on hand to share their stories. The museum features state of the art interactive displays following the history of U.S. troops landing on beaches in North Africa, Normandy and the South Pacific. The reason for the focus, and thus the reason the museum is in New Orleans, is the Higgins boat. Named for local entrepreneur Andrew Jackson Higgins, the special boats were developed for logging work in the swamps. But he converted them to a type of troop landing ship. The military eventually bought more than 20,000 boats from Higgins and his New Orleans factories. President Dwight Eisenhower's biographer, historian Stephen Ambrose, launched the project and eventually drew major financial support from Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg. But now veterans are stars of the museum and several are usually on hand next to the last Higgins boat to share their experiences. Read more about The National D-Day Museum
Contemporary Arts Center (900 Camp St., 504-528-3805)
Before the renaissance of the neighborhood, the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) was the lone arts institution in the district. Founded in 1976, it grew into a major regional arts center. The CAC features no permanent galleries but has two revolving show spaces and several theaters for music, theater, dance, film and other performance mediums. There are also regular art talk discussions and panels. The first floor of the center features an internet café and coffee bar as well.
Before the renaissance of the neighborhood, the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) was the lone arts institution in the district. Founded in 1976, it grew into a major regional arts center. The CAC features no permanent galleries but has two revolving show spaces and several theaters for music, theater, dance, film and other performance mediums. There are also regular art talk discussions and panels. The first floor of the center features an internet café and coffee bar as well.
Memorial Hall Confederate Museum (929 Camp St., 504-523-4522)
Sandwiched between wings of the Ogden sits the Confederate Museum. It's the oldest museum in Louisiana and used to be the state museum. It was founded in 1891 by Civil War veterans and their primary collections were Confederate flags, uniforms and weapons. There are some other interesting pieces in the museum besides Civil War era artifacts.
Sandwiched between wings of the Ogden sits the Confederate Museum. It's the oldest museum in Louisiana and used to be the state museum. It was founded in 1891 by Civil War veterans and their primary collections were Confederate flags, uniforms and weapons. There are some other interesting pieces in the museum besides Civil War era artifacts.
Louisiana Children's Museum (420 Julia St., 504-586-1357)
The Louisiana Children's Museum is a fun and interactive space with exhibits on basic science, art and daily life. Children can also explore some working environments like a television studio, a café and the port of New Orleans. The museum is recommended for ages 2-10.
The Louisiana Children's Museum is a fun and interactive space with exhibits on basic science, art and daily life. Children can also explore some working environments like a television studio, a café and the port of New Orleans. The museum is recommended for ages 2-10.
Ripley's Believe It Or Not (620 Decatur Street, 504-526-1233)
Ripley's Believe It Or Not just moved into Jackson Square. The gallery will display 500 exhibits in 14 galleries and will have plenty of local oddities highlighted. Ripley's is the strange legacy of Robert Leroy Ripley, a former baseball player, cartoonist and travel writer who visited more than 200 countries in search of the unbelievable. He opened his first "Odditorium" in Chicago in 1933 and as his notoriety grew so quickly that he was voted the most popular man in America three years later. Though he died in 1949, just months after launching a Ripley's TV show, the enterprise continued to open museums around the world.
Ripley's Believe It Or Not just moved into Jackson Square. The gallery will display 500 exhibits in 14 galleries and will have plenty of local oddities highlighted. Ripley's is the strange legacy of Robert Leroy Ripley, a former baseball player, cartoonist and travel writer who visited more than 200 countries in search of the unbelievable. He opened his first "Odditorium" in Chicago in 1933 and as his notoriety grew so quickly that he was voted the most popular man in America three years later. Though he died in 1949, just months after launching a Ripley's TV show, the enterprise continued to open museums around the world.
Musee Conti Wax Museum (917 Conti St., 504-581-1993)
The Wax Museum combines the history of New Orleans in vignette with a dungeon of horrors. While many scenes will be familiar, like the Battle of New Orleans, the Wax Museum depicts some lesser-known New Orleans history, like the state's first heavyweight prize fight in 1892 between John Sullivan and James Corbett. One scene celebrates Bernard Marigny, who introduced the dice game craps into the United States. There are also more salacious accounts, like the depiction of voodoo.
The Wax Museum combines the history of New Orleans in vignette with a dungeon of horrors. While many scenes will be familiar, like the Battle of New Orleans, the Wax Museum depicts some lesser-known New Orleans history, like the state's first heavyweight prize fight in 1892 between John Sullivan and James Corbett. One scene celebrates Bernard Marigny, who introduced the dice game craps into the United States. There are also more salacious accounts, like the depiction of voodoo.
Germaine Casenave Wells Museum (Inside Arnaud's Restaurant, 813 Bienville St., 504-523-5433)
Dedicated to the daughter of Arnaud's Restaurant's founder, Count Arnaud Casenave, the space is a shrine to her reign over more Mardi Gras balls than any other woman. It contains lavish ball gowns, fake jewels and pictures of balls from 1939 to 1968. The room is free to visitors whenever the restaurant is open.
Dedicated to the daughter of Arnaud's Restaurant's founder, Count Arnaud Casenave, the space is a shrine to her reign over more Mardi Gras balls than any other woman. It contains lavish ball gowns, fake jewels and pictures of balls from 1939 to 1968. The room is free to visitors whenever the restaurant is open.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum (514 Chartres St., 504-565-8027)
first officially licensed pharmacy in America was in the French Quarter. It offered all sorts of remedies, from the medical and scientific to more suspect elixirs and quack tonics and cures. Since voodoo was too scandalous for many citizens to approach priests and priestesses, the pharmacies also became fronts for their potions. One could discreetly ask for Love Potion #9 over the counter.
first officially licensed pharmacy in America was in the French Quarter. It offered all sorts of remedies, from the medical and scientific to more suspect elixirs and quack tonics and cures. Since voodoo was too scandalous for many citizens to approach priests and priestesses, the pharmacies also became fronts for their potions. One could discreetly ask for Love Potion #9 over the counter.