In terms of the museum being free, it s probably worth a visit. There was interesting history of New Orleans, cool maps and artwork, and the organ demonstration was good as well. Sports fans will like the sports exhibit - for me, seeing the 2010 NFL Lombardi Trophy was very cool.
Great museum, really really helpful passionate staff who were so keen to tell you even more, and free entry! I learnt so much about the rich history of New Orleans.
An idea to improve - I feel it could probably do section about Hurricane Katrina, given the enormous impact that had on the city. But they're pretty limited in space!
Beautiful museum space, knowledgeable guides, & wonderful architecture!
Every now and again they offer unique first showings. They also offer a beautiful courtyard. Original art showing the history of New Orleans over 300 years.
Great museum that I didn't even know existed until this past week. Definitely worth the time if you're in the area.
Free entrance, helpful staff and a lot of cool history.
I've lived in new Orleans since 2005I so love this city and have been dying to go to this museum had lunch with friends afterwards did a tour to museum extremely informative and amazing building
This collection is housed in a beautiful historic home. They are in the process of restoring and renovating in time for the tricentinial of New Orleans. That will open at the end of February. There are many knowledgeable guides positioned through out the home to give information on the family that lived there and donated the home.
Very interesting. The architecture is amazing as it changes from one are to another, showcasing New Orlean's unique heritage.
I love all the things that are on display to see. And a wonderful historical building
Everyone should visit this place! Must do on a rainy day, and dedicate more than an hour, this is surprisingly well done and with guides in each room! Plus, did I mention it's free?
A great free curated museum that is well researched, staffed, and authentic. This is a gem.
Wonderful museum explaining the history of Louisiana and New Orleans very well. The staff are adorable and passionate, do not hesitate to ask them questions, they have an answer for everyone. It is free but worth why more worth it than the Cabildo.
A must see for all visitors to New Orleans! Lots of original documents, artwork, and artifacts that showcase hundreds of years of history. The docents are friendly and well informed, plus it's free! Can't beat that with a stick!
Wonderful hidden gem in the quarter. Over 300 years of history in multiple sites, and it's free too! Great place to duck inside and cool off of an hot day!
Beautiful collection! Very safe staff! Mask up NOLA!
Hard to believe this is free! It's top-notch museum with immaculate displays of a wealth of history from New Orleans' storied past. Brand-new facility too! Cafe' Cour in the courtyard has historic food even.
The Williams Residence guided and self-guided tours each provided fantastic views into the lifestyle of the rich which was truly fabulous for its time. When in that house, after having seen a few movies from the era, you can easily imagine how everything would have worked and the comings and goings of staff as they attended to the Williams family and their guests.
The tour felt well coordinated and our guide was knowledgeable and happy to answer the questions that came up.
Please note that this is not a museum where everything is protected in display cases. You will in some cases be walking through and around the actual artifacts they have no issue reminding you that certain things can not be touched.
I highly recommend a visit when you are in New Orleans.
Nice little free museum if you're interested in nolas European beginnings. Lots of maps.
I love going to the Historic Collection and I recommend it to all my friends who come into town. Kurt and Malinda are especially wonderful, enthusiastic tour guides who are passionate about the history and development of New Orleans.
Excellent museum/research center/publisher, focused on New Orleans and Gulf Coast history.
This museum is hosted in an old New Orleans house. The permanent collection contains many maps, letters and pictures of New Orleans and its battles since the times of the French colony. The volunteers were all very helpful and shared interesting stories about New Orleans and some about their curious lives as well. The entrance is free and the museum is in a great location, so there's no reason to skip this one!
A treasure trove for visitor and native alike. You get the real history, not what a French Quarter carriage driver makes up. "The pirate Long John Silver lived here."
Very cool. Awesome history upstairs. Extra $5 architectural tour was fascinating as well!
Great museum for learning area history. Well worth the time spent. Very nice exhibits.
As we were waking and trying time find some place to spend some time, we stumbled upon this exhibit that was free. We were welcomed in and thru a series of rooms plotted the life of Andrew Jackson and the history of New Orleans. This is a must stop. Once you get some history here you are set for the information given on the plantation tours on River Road on the Mississippi River. These curators worked hard and are very knowledgeable of the areas history.
I was looking forward to this but only got through due timing, great staff, very educational.
Nice little museum to visit. Historical maps, letters, posters, paintings and objects illustrating the history of the city and its connections since colonization. The house itself is also worth the visit. It is free
Thanks for the tour and the very knowledgeable staff!
A wonderful snapshot of New Orleans history. Well curated and not overwhelming, the exhibits upstairs are in chronological order and the museum guide was impressively well informed. So much history in the breadbox of the city-blocks from the chaos lays this highly recommended experience.
Nice museum with free admission right in the middle of the French Quarter. Lots of originals items depicting the history of New Orleans.
The exhibits in this museum cover a wide range of topics related to the history and culture of the Gulf States and the people who influenced it.
Even recent actions, such as the circumstances of Hurricane Katrina, are presented appropriately.
Randomly found this spot in google searches and popped in!. The staff were very kind, knowledgeable, and proud of the New Orleans history. Can t believe it was a free museum; I learned so much and it was a wonderful way to escape the heat. Definitely recommend!
Original exhibits with digital interaction as well as very knowledgeable and approachable staff.
Great museum with so many interesting artifacts documenting the history of New Orleans.
Very professional! I'm looking forward to another visit and encourage everyone to explore it's treasures.
Its a great little slice of the history of the area. Its a fairly small museum which is great, its not overwhelming. However its a source with a lot of good historical information. I really enjoyed it.
Very cool museum with amazing historic documents of the Louisiana Purchase, etc...well worth the time!
Best local museum in NOLA, extraordinary collections housed in several buildings. The tour is interesting although not compelling. Gift shop is the best we found in French Quarter.
This place had a lot of information and some nice inhibits to look at
A detailed history of New Orleans presented with a fabulous mixture of portraits, hand written documents, furniture, artwork and artifacts in two separate buildings across the street from one another. Admission is free!
I adore this place, a must see for anyone who loves New Orleans The Mardi Gras history tour is awesome, Kurt was my tour guide and he is a great ambassador for the city I can t wait to spend hours looking inside the new building on my next visit!
Good overview of New orleans & LA history but heavy reliance on using iPad exhibits for interpretation so the walls are bare of anything but the images/items. If you dont want to stand & poke at an iPad it can feel scant.
Also the absurdly often request to scan your ticket are obnoxious. Literally 5 people in the 3rd floor scanned my ticket!
The museum is rich with artifacts from New Orleans and Louisiana. My favorite was the Rex memorabilia
Free Free Free...you cant beat that. Worth going even if you had to pay. Beautiful historic artifacts from day one of NO existence. Take pictures of everything, bring the history home with you.
Excellent collection, docents extremely friendly and knowledgeable.
I'm giving the exhibit a 4 star rating because Art is in the eye of the beholder. I enjoyed the exhibit as an opportunity to experience the artistic inspiration of many New Orleanean artists. Their impressions and inspiration from significant moments, people, textures, spaces, and time itself in the history of this city are on display. The museum has free admission and that should invite everyone to visit and consider making a contribution to keep these types of cultural centers alive.
Lots of information, more than can be taken in in one trip. Tour guide seemed bored.
I don't know what the interests were of the people who gave this museum and it's staff anything less than 5 stars. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and interested in NO and it's history. They brought to life the maps, pictures and artifacts in the exhibit. If you have only a passing interest in NO and American history, visit this museum. You will love it!
Best historical museum and research center in New Orleans
Been visiting New Orleans for many years and finally visited this museum....glad we did. It was a fun place with a ton of history. We also purchased a tour of one of the houses they offer and was very glad we did. Wonderful few hours.
Came in and explored the history of New Orleans. The volunteers did great job answering questions.
Not much here, but since they don't charge to see their small collection of historical paintings and duck decoys... well worth 20 minutes of your life in Nola.
Free museum with super nice people working there (or volunteering?... I'm not sure). From the outside you could easily walk by and miss this place, in fact I almost did. I walked in just out of curiosity (not quite sure if it was a gift shop, art gallery, or what) and I found what seemed to be a tiny two room museum/gift shop. I was greeted by a friendly lady who told me to check out the collection upstairs first as they were closing soon. So I go upstairs and wow... it's a whole museum, not just a little room or two. Sure it's a lot of paper products (maps, paintings, and the like) but it's well laid out with tablets full of information. I only had about 20 minutes so I rushed through it, but you could easily spend at hour in here. If you are looking to do New Orleans on a budget, or just want some culture before you start drinking, check this place out!
It's the best place to experience the history, culture, and a splash of color of the city and Louisiana as a whole!
Informative, interesting. Learned about new Orleans history in a fast way. Not very long. Main points. Recommend. And it's free.
Much of the collection was closed when we visited as they were changing exhibits... However, this is a quality free attraction in the French quarter
Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. The restrooms are extremely clean as well, which is nice.
Free, unless you pay... I believe $5 for the tour. Very interesting art and artifacts on New Orleans history.
The preeminent historical institution in New Orleans. The Galleries and exhibitions are fabulous. At the Williams Research Center, you can request to see any of a million items in the collection and there's no charge for this service! New visit to New Orleans is complete without a stop at the Historic New Orleans Collection.
Amazing and forthcoming staff. Good introduction to New Orleans
Wonderful tour about Free People of Color. The extra information about colonial New Orleans was great. THNOC has the best staff
Enjoyed hearing the Aeolian organ play and even looked through the sports exhibit and Industrial Photo display.
hnoc.org
