The entrance to this massive park has got to be one of the greatest gateways in the US, a picturesque arch that ought rightfully to be the final set piece in a period drama about Jazz Age New Orleans. The original Congo Sq is here, as well as a Louis Armstrong Statue and a bust of Sidney Bechet. The Mahalia Jackson Theater hosts opera and Broadway productions. The park often hosts live-music festivals throughout the year.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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1. Congo Square

0.1 MILES

In Louis Armstrong Park, Congo Sq was a Sunday gathering spot for slaves under the French Code Noir. For one day of the week, the enslaved could sing the…

2. Louis Armstrong Statue

0.1 MILES

This statue of the iconic jazz trumpeter greets visitors as they enter Louis Armstrong Park.

3. Backstreet Cultural Museum

0.22 MILES

Mardi Gras Indian suits grab the spotlight with dazzling flair – and finely crafted detail – in this informative museum examining the distinctive elements…

4. St Augustine's Church

0.25 MILES

Open since 1841, ‘St Aug’s’ is the oldest African American Catholic church in the country, a place where Creoles, émigrés from St Domingue and free…

5. St Louis Cemetery No 1

0.26 MILES

This cemetery received the remains of many early Creoles who were buried above-ground in family tombs due to the shallow water table. Cemetery visitation…

6. Mortuary Chapel

0.29 MILES

A fear of yellow-fever contagion led the city to forbid funerals for fever victims at St Louis Cathedral. Built in 1826 near St Louis Cemetery No 1, the…

7. New Orleans African American Museum

0.31 MILES

This small museum is in the midst of a $6-million renovation and is closed to visitors, although it still offers Tremé-based walking tours. Before closing…

8. Historic Voodoo Museum

0.33 MILES

Of the (many) voodoo-themed spots in the French Quarter, this one is a favorite. The narrow corridors and dark rooms, stuffed with statues, dolls and…