Field Trips

While there is no fee to schedule a field trip to HNOC, all student groups must be reserved through our education department via the reservation form on this page, or by calling (504) 556-7661. We are unable to accommodate unscheduled field trips.   

HNOC most commonly provides guided tours in our galleries, which may include visits to the museum’s ongoing or temporary exhibitions. If sufficient notice is provided, we are also happy to design a unique experience that meets the needs of your classroom—including organizing walking tours, show-and-tell presentations, offsite visits, or explorations of a specific theme or topic.  

Field trip group size is capped at 40 students to best accommodate all of our spaces. HNOC requires one (1) adult chaperone for every ten (10) students. Depending on group size, students may be split into small groups amongst museum staff. For larger groups, our team may suggest scheduling rotating morning and afternoon sessions over a single day or across multiple days. HNOC is fortunate to be located within walking distance of many other museums and historic sites, and our team is happy to refer you to nearby institutions with whom we regularly collaborate.

In the event any changes are made to your itinerary, group size, or if you need to cancel your visit, please contact our education department immediately at education@hnoc.org or call (504) 556-7661. HNOC reserves the right to modify, adjust, or cancel a field trip for groups that arrive later than 30 minutes after their scheduled time without prior communication with museum staff.

For groups traveling by bus, several arrival options are available. If the cost of transportation is preventing you from scheduling a trip, ask about our Bus Fund program to learn about how HNOC can help cover transportation expenses. 

• Classroom Drop-Off: School buses may pull up directly to our classroom space located at 610 Toulouse Street for loading and unloading. School buses must be within the size limits required to travel through the French Quarter. 

• Drop-Off, Walk, and Park Option: Students and chaperones maybe dropped off at the corner of Decatur Street and Toulouse Street (facing east towards downtown), before walking one block to 610 Toulouse Street. Buses may then park on the 300 block of Front Street and return to the same Decatur/Toulouse intersection at the scheduled pick-up time.  

• Park and Walk Option: Buses may park on the 300 block of Front Street, a common tour bus area—though spaces are not guaranteed. If this option is chosen, your group will have to walk approximately five blocks to 610 Toulouse Street.  

Coordinating your group’s arrival to and departure from 610 Toulouse Street on foot—and confirming drop-off and pick-up arrangements with your bus drivers—is highly recommended.  Please view these locations on the map below.

All field trips begin at our education classroom located at 610 Toulouse Street. Your group's experiences may involve visits to multiple locations across HNOC’s campus. If you have any special accessibility or mobility requirements, please let us know in advance when you submit the reservation form. View our Accessibility page for more information.

Food and drinks, large backpacks, and oversized school supplies are not allowed in HNOC galleries. These items may be secured in our classroom at 610 Toulouse Street upon arrival. HNOC does not provide space for group lunches onsite. If your group plans to eat lunch in the French Quarter, we suggest Jackson Square or Woldenberg Park on the Mississippi River levee. Please view these locations on the map below.