Confederate Museum

Lonely Planet review

Dedicated to presenting Louisiana life during the Civil War, this museum is housed in sturdy old Confederate Memorial Hall, designed by Thomas Sully. Opened to the public in 1891, it's the oldest operating museum in the state. Entering the hall, with its exposed cypress ceiling beams and exhibition cases, is worth the price of admission alone, and the exhibit itself is likely to exceed expectations.

The museum makes little effort to reinterpret history, or lament past sins. The closest thing to a point of view are a few harsh words (mostly quoting federal officials in Washington, DC) about General Benjamin 'Beast' Butler, the locally reviled head of the Union forces that occupied New Orleans during the war. If there is an agenda, it would be to humanize those who fought on the losing side of a grizzly war. The exhibits falter by neglecting unpleasant topics, including slavery. It's a huge ommission that can only be explained by the paucity of material possessions slaves could have left behind.

For this museum is really a collection of things . The exhibit includes the expected rifles, swords, pistols and flags from the war, as well as other strangely beautiful artefacts of the industrial age. The museum really shines for its endless collection of personal effects that belonged to officers and soldiers and their families back home. Knapsacks, playing cards, tobacco pouches and undergarments are fastidiously arranged within the display cabinets. Display cases densely packed with curious items, such as Jefferson Davis' slippers and an impressive array of oddly styled hats, conjure up the past in a surprisingly touching way.