Visitors view an exhibition installation at HNOC.

Exhibitions

New takes on old stories, free and open to everyone

On View Upcoming Virtual Traveling Past

On View

A photo shows a museum visitor using a Histopad to view Washington crossing the Delaware in augmented reality.

Colonial Wars & Conflicts

American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition

March 20, 2026 to January 17, 2027

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Music & Musicians

New Orleans Musicians in Art: Selections from the Permanent Collection

November 4, 2025 to May 16, 2027

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Black and white photo of people in line for voting registration outside a building. Two men are seated near a Voting Applications sign, and several individuals are standing in line, some wearing hats and summer clothing.

The Civil Rights Movement

The Trail They Blazed

June 6, 2025 to June 7, 2026

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A group of people sits at a diner counter. A woman drinks from a soda bottle, while another eats a burger. A man is smoking a cigarette. The counter is filled with plates and glasses, and the background shows shelves with various items.

The Civil Rights Movement

The Trail They Blazed (Traveling)

January 6 to April 19, 2026

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Illustration of a brown pelican perched on a branch with green leaves in the background. The bird has a long beak and distinctive brown, white, and yellow plumage. The botanical details add a naturalistic setting.

Land Loss & Climate Change

A Vanishing Bounty: Louisiana’s Coastal Environment and Culture

Ongoing

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French Quarter street scene showing at 710 Toulouse Street, and corner of shuttered building at 714 Toulouse, with a man walking along the street in the darkness, his shadow falling upon the wall. Shows cat beside colonnette supporting balcony, a street light, double doorway of the gateway, laundry hanging on second floor of 710 Toulouse, and ironwork balcony of 714 Toulouse. Shows partial view of balcony and building at corner of Toulouse and Royal Streets.

French Quarter Life

French Quarter Life: People and Places in the Vieux Carré

Ongoing

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Antique map of a city grid with detailed plots, streets, and buildings. It includes a compass rose and features ships sailing on the river at the bottom. The layout is intricate, showcasing a geometrically organized urban plan.

French Quarter Life

Upcoming

Poster for Chihuahua: King Of New Orleans Dogs, 1981, by Bunny Matthews.

Visual Art & Artists

Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions

September 18, 2026 to May 9, 2027

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Visit

Admission is Always Free 

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Plan Your Visit

Hours & Location

520 Royal Street
Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m .
Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

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Admission

Admission is free but tickets are required. Stop by the front desk or reserve tickets online. Ticket includes admission to all exhibitions and regular daily programs.

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Museum: (504) 523-4662
Email: tours@hnoc.org

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“In the French Quarter, the city’s colonial heart, gimmicky ghost tours are as common as cockroaches. A better way to commune with the spirits is to visit the Historic New Orleans Collection’s museum on Royal Street.”

Richard Fausset, correspondent, The New York Times

Museum Highlights

Four people sit on a low wall in a dark room with a vibrant art projection in the background. The projection features a large building surrounded by colorful, abstract designs. The people are casually dressed and appear engaged with the display.

French Quarter by Night

Music, revelry, and timeless tales come alive in this immersive experience in the French Quarter Galleries.

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A vibrant courtyard with people walking and sitting at tables under umbrellas. The area is surrounded by tall buildings with large windows, and potted plants add greenery to the scene. Posters are displayed, and the atmosphere is lively and social.

Brulatour Courtyard

One of the most illustrated courtyards in the world, this French Quarter landmark has captured the creative spirit of New Orleans for decades.

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A group of people, including a young child and two adults, are gathered around an interactive touchscreen table displaying a digital city map. The adults are touching the screen, while the child looks on with curiosity.

French Quarter at Your Fingertips

Travel around the French Quarter in seconds with this giant interactive map, stocked with information and images about every block of the Vieux Carré.

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A portrait of a woman wearing a light-colored headwrap, an ornate earring, and a ruffled collar against a dark background. Her expression is calm and composed. The style suggests a historical or classical painting.

Portrait of a Free Woman of Color

This rare 1837 oil painting has a history that, until recently, remained a secret. Visit the French Quarter Galleries to hear her story.

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Two people stand in a room near a large, ornate pipe organ with wooden details and vertical pipes. The room has warm-colored walls and wooden flooring. One person is wearing a jacket, while the other is in a patterned shirt.

Aeolian Organ

Experience surround sound like a Roaring Twenties bigwig with HNOC’s fully restored, self-playing pipe organ.

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In Search of Julien Hudson: Free Artist of Color in Pre–Civil War New Orleans

January 20 to May 15, 2011

A special retrospective exhibition explores the second-earliest documented painter of African descent in the United States and the first known native Louisiana artist.

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