New Orleans: See & Go

“Everyone in this good city enjoys the full right to pursue his own inclinations in all reasonable and, unreasonable ways.” -The Daily Picayune, New Orleans, March 5, 1851

 

Amistad Research Center – Amistad is a library and archives founded to document race relations and America’s racial and ethnic heritage. It has a rotating exhibition space where it displays manuscript material and fine art from its collections on a quarterly basis. The current exhibition highlights the work for writer Chester Himes.  6823 St. Charles Avenue, Tilton Hall, Tulane University, New Orleans | www.amistadresearchcenter.org

Ashé Cultural Arts Center – Organization that creates and supports programs, activities, and creative works emphasizing the contributions of people of African descent.  1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans | www.ashecac.org

Backstreet Cultural Museum – Small museum in Treme devoted to African American community-based masking and processional traditions, including Mardi Gras Indians, jazz funerals, social aid and pleasure clubs, Baby Dolls, and Skull and Bone gangs. 1116 Henriette Delille Street, New Orleans | www.backstreetmuseum.org

Contemporary Arts Center – Arts complex located in downtown New Orleans. Founded in 1976, the center plays host to events and performances from visual arts to concert performances and lectures. 900 Camp St, New Orleans |  cacno.org

Krewe of Jingle Holiday Parade – Witness a New Orleans Mardi Gras-style parade Saturday, December 2nd. The parade starts at Lee Circle at 1:00pm. It winds down St. Charles Avenue near the hotel to Canal Street, then heads up Baronne to Howard Avenue. Route here.

Louisiana State Museum – A group of museums, actually. In Jackson Square in the French Quarter, you’ll find the Cabildo, devoted to Louisiana history, and the Presbytere, devoted to Mardi Gras culture and hurricane recovery. The New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint is located near the French Market. louisianastatemuseum.org

 


Mardi Gras World – See the studio where floats are created for New Orleans’ Carnival parades. Tours begin every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Ticketing and shuttle information here: 1380 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans | www.mardigrasworld.com

 

 

 

National World War II Museum –  It will take more time than you think it will – no matter how long you think it will take. 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans | www.nationalww2museum.org

New Orleans Museum of Art – A world class art collection in the heart of City Park. One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park New Orleans | noma.org

Ogden Museum of Southern Art – An eclectic collection of Southern art of all  kinds. 925 Camp Street, New Orleans | ogdenmuseum.org

Southern Food & Beverage Museum – Because who doesn’t love Southern food? There’s cooking lunch demos on Mondays and Thursdays. And the restaurant attached (Toups) is pretty good too!  1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans |  natfab.org/southern-food-and-beverage

 

A Little Further Afield ..

 

Swamp tours. Explore the Louisiana bayou on a guided swamp tour.

Plantation tours. Along River Road a short drive from New Orleans are numerous former plantations that offer historical tours of the houses and grounds.

  • Whitney Plantation: Museum with a focus on the lives of Louisiana’s enslaved people.  5099 Highway 18, Wallace | whitneyplantation.com
  • Laura Plantation: 2247 Highway 18, Vacherie | lauraplantation.com
  • Oak Alley Plantation: A filming location for Interview with a Vampire, Primary Colors, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte and more.  3645 Highway 18, Vacherie | www.oakalleyplantation.com
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