Louisiana Children's Museum offers a toddler area and children's drama, dance, and puppet shows. There are also art and science exhibits, as well as hands-on math and physics exhibits, and a reproduction of a television studio. Many of the exhibits are geared toward learning through doing. This style of learning makes it fun for both parents and kids alike. This is a great rainy day field trip and a good place for anyone trying to get away from the "adult" aspects of the city.
Located on the boundary of the French Quarter, Saint Louis Cemetery Number One is the oldest cemetery in the city. The above ground burial practices are typical of swampy New Orleans, where early settlers soon discovered that coffins buried in the ground would float to the surface after a hard rain. There are many ornate family tombs and vaults, but visitors to Saint Louis Cemetery Number One must be accompanied by a licensed tour guide or have a special pass issued for persons with loved ones or family members buried in the cemetery.
This Greek Revival mansion is home to original English and American antiques and eight acres of formal gardens and decorative fountains. Although florals vary with the seasons, visitors can count on a spectacular display year-round. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Longue Vue House & Gardens features ever-changing exhibits. A gift shop sells horticulture and decorative items, children's gifts and reproductions from the Longue Vue Collection.
The Presbytere, built in 1790, was originally called the "Ecclesiastical House." It served as a courthouse and a commercial business before becoming one of five buildings in the French Quarter that make up the Louisiana State Museum. Exhibits focus on paintings, furniture, pottery, clothing and every kind of craft or relic imaginable, as long as it illustrates Louisiana's culture and colorful past.
This structure was built between 1795-1799 to house the city council when New Orleans was a possession of Spain. Today, the Cabildo is the flagship of the Louisiana State Museum. Interactive exhibits illustrate the history of Louisiana from European explorations to the post Civil War Reconstruction era. This stunning museum is located on Jackson Square near the St. Louis Cathedral. Group tours are available. The museum is closed on federal holidays.
The Sisters of Ursula established Catholic schools for African-American and Native American girls and set up the first orphanage in Louisiana. The convent is now home to Catholic archives dating back to 1718. It is the oldest building on record in New Orleans and the entire Mississippi Valley. It sits across from another historic site, the Beauregard-Keyes House, and is part of the Archbishop Antoine Blanc Memorial. It is open for self-guided tours.
Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum is located on the second floor of Arnaud's Restaurant. It is dedicated to his daughter, Germaine Cazenave Wells who was crowned queen of 22 carnival balls for 17 different krewes during a 31-year period (1937-1968). On display are many of her ball gowns, costumes and accessories worn by other family members. The entrance is through the restaurant and admission is free.
New Orleans Musical Legends Park is a lovely outdoor space that is dedicated to creating awareness about the rich cultural and musical heritage of the city of New Orleans. A pleasant reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city, the space offers visitors a tranquil oasis with interesting exhibits that chronicle the various influences that have shaped the culture of this vibrant city. Entrance to the park is free, and live musical performances are par course. Grab a table and some beignets from the Cafe, or simply settle down and enjoy a musical extravaganza in this beautiful outdoor setting at the heart of the French Quarter.
The brainchild of J. D. Healy and Catherine Shultz, The Museum of Death was first opened in San Diego in 1995. Having grown in popularity it was later moved to Hollywood Boulevard and a second one of its kind was opened in New Orleans. Since then it has gone on to become home to the largest collection of death themed exhibits. Found here are a controversial collection of severed heads, photos of crime scenes, autopsy instruments, execution devices, taxidermied pets and several other eerie exhibits. If you can stomach graphic and gory displays do visit this museum.
While many folks try to keep anything that creeps, crawls, or flies out of their lives, the Audubon Insectarium is working to bring visitors eye to eye with the creepy and crawly. Thousands of mounted specimens and live insects make up the collection of interactive exhibits that are housed in the largest freestanding museum of its kind in the United States. Audubon Insectarium exhibits include Butterflies in Flight which provides visitors with an up-close learning experience in a free-flying Japanese Garden style exhibit, Life Underground which shrinks visitors to the size of our six-legged friends with oversized props and animatronic insects, and the Cooking Show and Cultural Café which gives everyone the chance to experience the joy of cooking with insects!
The Audubon Nature Institute has a zoo, aquarium, insectarium and a theater and organizes educational and enjoyable events for children. All museums are available for hire for personal events. A great place not only for children, but also for adults to learn about nature, the Audubon Nature Institute is fun for the whole family.
Martin Lawrence Galleries: New Orleans is the place to be if you are an avid lover of fine arts. Open seven days a week, this art gallery is frequented by locals and tourists in large numbers on a regular basis. The regularly changing exhibitions at Martin Lawrence Galleries: New Orleans provides something for the art lovers in the city to look forward to.