-
1850 House Museum
The 1850 House is one of the apartments in the lower Pontalba Building. Madame Micaëla Pontalba, daughter of Don Andrés Almonaster y Roxas, continued her father's improvements around Jackson Square by building the long rows of red-brick apartments flanking the upper and lower portions of the square. She was also responsible for renaming the once barren parade grounds, the Place d'Armes, after her friend Andrew Jackson.
-
A Gallery For Fine Photography
This impressive gallery usually has prints such as William Henry Jackson's early-20th-century views of New Orleans and EJ Belloq's rare images of Storyville prostitutes, made from the photographers' original glass plates. The gallery also regularly features Herman Leonard's shots of Duke Ellington and other jazz legends, as well as the occasional Cartier-Bresson enlargement (available at second-mortgage prices).
-
Amistad Research Center
The center is one of the nation's largest repositories specializing in African-American history. Even if you didn't come to New Orleans to study, the rotating exhibits offer insight on ethnic heritage that you're not likely to get from any other source. The displayed works of art from the Aaron Douglas Collection are another reason to drop by - a few of the works are copied for sale.
-
Animazing Gallery
You won't find local art here. This national dealer specializes in very cool works by legendary illustrators and animators. Chuck Jones' cells from classic Loony Toon cartoons, rare and personal art pieces by Dr Seuss, and the finished doodlings of Simpsons creator Matt Groening are but a few examples of what you're likely to encounter here.
-
Anton Haardt Gallery
Among the finest galleries anywhere to specialize in contemporary folk art from the Deep South. The gallery has featured the works of well-known artists such as Howard Finster and Clementine Hunter, but you are more likely to come across Lamar Sorrento's cool portraits of blues musicians or Jimmy Lee Sudduth's striking earth-tone figures. Alabama artist Haardt quietly mixes her own accomplished work into the gallery.
-
Arthur Roger Gallery
One of the district's most prominent galleries, Arthur Roger represents several dozen artists from around the South, including Simon Gunning, whose landscapes are haunting records of a Louisiana's disappearing wetlands.
-
Backstreet Cultural Museum
The brainchild of Sylvester Francis, has memorabilia of local African American culture, like the Mardi Gras Indians and jazz funerals. Francis provides savory stories to accompany exhibits.
-
Barrister's Gallery
A little ways beyond the Lower Garden District, this gallery has some edge to it. It has represented the works of Julie Crozat, who gained some notice for her lurid and visually stunning 'Deadly Sins' series. The gallery also specializes in works by African American and Haitian artists.
-
Bergeron Studio & Gallery
This gallery has a superb collection of historic photographs by key artists who worked in New Orleans over the past century, from Pops Whitesell to Michael P Smith.
-
Berta's & Mina's Antiquities
This cluttered gallery, with paintings seemingly tumbling out onto the sidewalk, specializes in regional folk art, especially the works of the late Nilo Lanzas. His daughter operates the shop. Lanzas began painting at age 63, and produced an impressive body of work up to his death just a few years ago. Museums and serious collectors have snatched up many of Lanzas' paintings already, but there are dozens of nice pieces, all very eye-catching and worthy of homes.
-
Advertisement
-
Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World
When there is no parade happening in New Orleans, you can get your fill of floats at Mardi Gras World where most of the best parade floats are made and stored. It's across the river from the French Quarter, in historic Algiers Point. The man behind the magic is Blaine Kern - 'Mr Mardi Gras' - who has been making parade floats since 1947.
-
Cabildo
The first Cabildo was a single-story structure destroyed by the Good Friday fire of 1788. Reconstruction was delayed by the city's more pressing needs for a prison, cathedral, and police and fire stations. It turned out to be fortuitous that architect Gilberto Guillemard, who was busy with the St Louis Cathedral, did not hurry the reconstruction. The December 1794 fire would have likely destroyed a new Cabildo and the almost completed cathedral as well.
-
Cole Pratt Gallery
Contemporary Southern artists are showcased in this fine art gallery. Paintings here might include Lea Barton's earthy abstractions or Gustave Blanche's warmly rendered still lifes.
-
Confederate Museum
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.
-
Contemporary Arts Center
The Contemporary Arts Center maintains airy galleries filled with rotating avant-garde shows.
-
Gallier House Museum
New Orleans owes much of its architectural heritage to James Gallier Sr and James Gallier Jr, architects renowned for their Greek-revival designs. In 1857 Gallier Jr began work on this impressive French Quarter town house, incorporating numerous innovations - such as interior plumbing, skylights and ceiling vents - into the design. A cistern provided fresh water to the kitchen, which in turn provided hot water to the upstairs bath.
-
George Schmidt Gallery
New Orleans artist George Schmidt describes himself as a 'historical' painter. Indeed, his canvasses evoke the city's past, awash in a warm romantic light. His Mardi Gras paintings are worth a look.
-
Harouni Gallery
Artist David Harouni is a native of Iran who has lived and worked in New Orleans for the past several decades. He creates works of absorbing depth by painting and scraping multiple layers.
-
Heriard-Cimino Gallery
Established contemporary artists from across the US are represented in this elegant space. The emphasis is on abstract and figurative paintings, but you might also encounter photography and sculpture here.
-
Historic New Orleans Collection
Ensconced in several exquisitely restored buildings, the Historic New Orleans Collection displays thoughtfully curated exhibits with an emphasis on archival materials, like the original transfer documents of the Louisiana Purchase.
-
Advertisement
-
Historic Voodoo Museum
This fascinating museum explores the history of voodoo, the exotic form of spiritual expression first brought to New Orleans by West African slaves who came on ships via Haiti. Tours of the museum are self-guided, so carefully read the handout as you pass through the rooms; otherwise, there is little to explain the exhibited arcana.
-
Hogan Jazz Archive
A specialized research library, this is worth visiting if you're writing a book about jazz, or are seriously into jazz history. Most of its great wealth of material is not on exhibit; the librarian will retrieve items from the stacks for you. The collection includes stacks of 78rpm recordings, including early sides recorded by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1917, and you can ask to listen to rare tracks if you like. There's also a wealth of oral histories, photos and early concert posters.
-
House of Broel
The House of Broel has a dollhouse museum that appeals primarily to girls with very frilly taste. The collection includes 15 large houses that are architecturally impressive (hey, don't look at Dad, he doesn't have time to make one of these). Some of the houses are miniature vignettes of antebellum life, populated by mini Rhetts and Scarletts.
-
Hula Mae's Laundry
Cossimo Matassa's J&M Music shop, where New Orleans musicians recorded some of the biggest R&B hits in the 1950s, closed down years ago, but the site, now a busy laundry mat, contains a few items of interest to music fanatics. The pebby J&M sign is still inlaid on the front threshhold. Inside, by the dryers and folding tables, one wall is dedicated to a photo and history exhibit that tells some of the story behind this historic spot.
-
Jean Bragg Gallery Of Southern Art
This is a good source for the Arts and Crafts-style Newcomb Pottery, which originated at New Orleans' own Newcomb College. Bragg also deals in classic landscapes by Louisiana painters, and every month she features the work of a contemporary artist.
