Free Museums in New Orleans

"The National WWII Museum is a military history museum that highlights the contribution made by the United States to the Allied victory in World War II. Formerly known as The National D-Day Museum, the National WWII Museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and emphasizes the American experience in World War II. Located on Andrew Higgins Drive in the Central Business District of New Orleans, the museum has several notable features including the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion which boasts exhibits about the amphibious invasions of the Pacific War; the John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion, the Solomon Victory Theater, the US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, and the Campaigns of Courage Pavilion. Several permanent galleries document the Home Front, Planning for D-Day, and the D-Day Beaches through fascinating exhibits. 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130, Phone: 504-528-1944"

"Address: 945 Magazine StreetNew Orleans, LA 70130Phone: (504) 528-1944Website. The museum’s exhibits cover “the war that changed the world” through exhibits that focus on world leaders, events, and the war’s courageous men and women. Stay on the Museum’s campus at the Higgins Hotel and Conference Center, an art-deco style property offering first-class accommodations."

"In the 1912 the sugar broker and art collector Isaac Delgado left New Orleans a sizeable grant to establish what would become the New Orleans Museum of Art. The main building went up soon after, to a design partly by Benjamin Morgan Harrod, New Orleans’s former chief engineer, while new wings and expansions followed in the early-1970s and 90s. The collection is huge, with more than 40,000 pieces from the Italian Renaissance to today."

"Set smack dab in City Park among the Spanish moss-draped oaks complete with Greco-Roman columns and a charming sculpture garden, the grounds alone warrant a visit to this NOLA institution that’s oozing with grandeur. It’s the city’s oldest fine arts institution and boasts a permanent collection of nearly 40,000 pieces. Not only that, but it’s one of the most impressive and revered fine art collections in the whole of the south."

"The New Orleans Museum of Art is known to be the oldest fine arts museum in the city of New Orleans which is perfect for anyone looking for a cheap but immersive experience."

"Founded in 1966, The Historic New Orleans Collection has two campuses: one on Royal Street and the other on Chartres Street. Its Royal Street campus has a permanent gallery on Louisiana history; a hall for rotating exhibitions; and house museum called the Williams Residence—which, according to the THNOC, “is the only French Quarter house open to the public with its original furnishings.”. Its Chartres Street campus holds the Williams Research Center, the Boyd Cruise gallery, and thousands of historic artifacts that encapsulate life New Orleans over the last 300 years."

"The Historic New Orleans Collection was founded in 1966 with the goal of preserving the French Quarter area. There are eight different buildings that have been restored and are a part of the Royal Street Complex. The organization has put together eight different themed walking tours that will explore different aspects of the French Quarter depending on what is most interesting to you."

"Set on a beautifully manicured campus in the heart of the French Quarter, you’ll find the Historic New Orleans Collection. This series of historical buildings dates to the late 18th century. It focuses on the culture of New Orleans ranging from the War of 1812 to the jazz age."

"This unique museum was once the apothecary of America’s first licensed pharmacist. Located just steps away from Napoleon House, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum features a quirky array of pharmaceutical and medical memorabilia including antique surgical instruments and apothecary jars containing their original ingredients. Visitors can spend hours among all the medical curiosities and wonders of decades past."

"Some key points to check out in this small zone are: the artists along the street at Jackson Square, St Lous Cathedral (you can’t miss it), New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo, and shopping for antiques on Royal Street. Of course, Bourbon street is here too and always popping even in the daytime."

"It’s also an excellent place to people watch and where a number of New Orleans’ historical landmarks like The St Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, and The Presbytère are located (with Preservation Hall and The Historic New Orleans Collection nearby). Tons of artists, musicians, and fortune tellers hang out in Jackson Square and in the spirit of disclosure, I spent most of my time here people-watching and eating beignets. However, if you want to be a little more cultured than I was, visit one or several of the above-mentioned landmarks for even more NOLA history."

"Originally called Casas Curial or “Ecclesiastical House,” The Presbytère was started in 1791 and is a great example of formal colonial Spanish architecture. It was first designed to match the nearby Cabildo (Town Hall) and was built on the former site of the residence of the Capuchin monks and presbytery. It became a courthouse in 1834 and part of the Louisiana State Museum in 1911."

"The Presbytère is located on the northwest side of Jackson Square, between St. Louis Cathedral and St. Ann Street. It matches the Cabildo, which stands on the other site of the Cathedral. The Presbytère was built in 1791, and is currently one of the United States’ best examples of colonial Spanish architecture."

"In spring 2019, this treasured New Orleans institution was getting ready to move from 420 Julia Street to a high-tech and sustainable campus at City Park. The new museum grounds will cover 8.5 acres and have an interpretive wetland habitat, edible garden and an LEED-certified main building on the banks of a lagoon. Here there will be a replica grocery store and bubble studio, while the 30-metre Mighty Mississippi exhibit will explain the course of this mighty river from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico."

"If you’re bringing the kids along for the weekend trip to New Orleans, you can’t go wrong with the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Think of it as one of the world’s largest classrooms. Their brand new campus located in City Park provides more than 30,000 square feet of interactive and educational exhibits – including a climbing wall, art studio, and mock cafe."

"If you’re searching for what to do in New Orleans City Park with kids, the Louisiana Children’s Museum has to top your list. Kids will delight in playing throughout the indoor and outdoor areas. Outside, your kids can explore exhibits on the water, in the garden, and more!"

"Visit the spacious art galleries of the Contemporary Arts Center to see some world-class fine art in the up-and-coming warehouse district in downtown New Orleans. There are different artist residences happening and constantly rotating and changing exhibits. The museum is famous for the events that it hosts with different performances and lectures."

"Right next door to The National WWII Museum is the Contemporary Arts Center, known to locals as the CAC. This artistic hub hosts a variety of exciting contemporary art exhibits and events. To open the 2018 season, the CAC is presenting “Constructing the Break,” their annual open call exhibition of 29 regional artists."

"Take in cutting-edge exhibits, featuring both local artists and the work of national and international talent, at this cornerstone of…"

"The Whitney Plantation House is meant to be the best one which doesn’t just focus on the mansion and owners but instead focuses on slavery and is turned into a slavery museum, with the money benefitting descendants of slaves (from what I’m told). I am really bummed I didn’t go here – I thought they might be unethical, then Sam talked to some locals who said this place was legit and totally a do-not-miss. Something to do on the next trip."

"The Whitney plantation is the first American museum dedicated to slavery. It has records of memoirs from literate slaves and their experiences. The Whitney plantation focuses on the institution of slavery. The Laura plantation is a creole owned plantation whereby the family tell the history of the their generation."

"Whitney Plantation, on the other hand, focuses on slavery and what life was like for the slaves living on the plantation. There are personal narratives and exhibits of the slaves who lived on the plantation which can certainly be more emotional but important history to understand nevertheless."

"Address: 1117 Montegut StreetNew Orleans, LA 70117Phone: (318) 294-5438Website. A true neighborhood French restaurant, the N7 is named after the highway that once ran from Paris to the Italian border. The restaurant brings an interesting twist to French cuisine, infusing a Japanese touch inspired by chef Yuki Yamaguchi."

"For an awesome fusion of French and Japanese cuisine, check out N7!. The perfect mix of classy and casual, and their outdoor dining area is one of the cutest in New Orleans!. Try their squid and you’ll want to return in no time at all!"

"That’s the one word to describe the food at Superior Seafood!. This stylish restaurant has a zinc bar and full-service oyster bar perfect for anyone looking for Louisiana seafood and Creole-inspired cuisine. The menu changes weekly at Superior Seafood to highlight the freshest, local ingredients available, so you can always expect a quality experience."

"Yes, even a seafood restaurant makes the list of best vegan restaurants in New Orleans!. Just like the other restaurants on this list, Superior Seafood also offers superior sides an..."

"At the very heart of the French Quarter on Bourbon Street there’s a paved courtyard park celebrating New Orleans’ musical giants with plaques, artwork and other commemorative displays. Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Chris Owens, Al Hirt and Louis Prima are all honoured here, among others. A constant stream of musicians put on free performances in this laid-back environment with lots of shade, and you can grab coffee and a Cajun speciality like crawfish omelette at Cafe Beignet."

"One of the most popular spaces for public gatherings along Bourbon Street that doesn't involve the usual tourist schlock and frozen hurricanes. Free jazz sets are performed every day from 10 a.m. till close, and families congregate here to enjoy them."

"If you want a place that is surrounded by musical history, then the Musical Legends Park should be on your list. Sit and sip on a drink and eat some beignets while you listen to live music. Artists display their artwork around the park."

"The Courturie Forest is another gem you can experience in City Park. Located not far from Scout Island, the trails through this park take you away from the manicured lawns and giant oak trees into a much more wild area along a waterway that is full of birds and turtles. Also located in the Couturie Forest is Laborde Mountain."

"Outside of New Orleans East, Couturie is the wildest natural space in the city. A series of paths wind through acres of Louisiana hardwood forest and lead to the highest point in the city: Laborde Mountain, towering at 43 feet over the surrounding park. When to go to New Orleans"

"Located slightly northwest of the French Quarter, City Park is a huge park and Botanical Garden to explore. The Park is full of the best things to do in New Orleans, especially if you’re looking for a more chilled out day. From carousels and statues (which you’ll find in the Storyland section) to stunning walks, it’s totally gorgeous and well worth a visit."

"Founded in 1854, this 1,300-acre expanse of moss-draped oaks and 11 miles of gentle lagoons is just 2 miles from the French Quarter,…"

"The Oakwood Shopping Center is in Gretna, a quick drive over the Crescent City Connection, the bridge that takes you to the West Bank of the Mississippi. It's not as big as some of the other malls on this list, but that can be a blessing in disguise. The Oakwood Mall has plenty of parking and fewer crowds, making the shopping experience breezier."

"With 82 shops, including Dillard's and JC Penny's, this mall on Jefferson Parish's West Bank offers an array of retail options across all price ranges, as well as dining, spas, a barbershop and more."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. If you’re a self-confessed shopaholic, a trip to McArthur Shopping Center on MacArthur Blvd is something you shouldn’t miss. This shopping destination seems to have everything: bakeries, restaurants, clothing stores, and salons."

"Elmwood Shopping Center in Harahan is over 1 million square feet, making it one of the largest open-air shopping centers in Louisiana and one of the highest performing regional shopping centers in the United States. Elmwood’s tenant anchors include Home Depot, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Best Buy, Office Max, Petsmart, DSW, Ulta, Old Navy, Cost Plus World Market and Michael’s Arts and Crafts."

"Elmwood isn't an enclosed mall, but a sprawling outdoor collection of department stores, boutiques, big box retailers and more. Some of the big names holding court are Best Buy, Big Lots, World Market, Old Navy, Ulta and Marshall's. As you drive from place to place, there are tons of national and regionally based food places for you to grab a quick bite."