The 10 Best Museums in New Orleans

The country's largest collection of Southern art, in a handsome Warehouse District building directly across from the WWII Museum — self-taught visionaries, Southern photography, and contemporary work that actually explains the region. Open daily 10am-5pm, admission modest (roughly $15 adult). Small enough to love in 90 minutes; locals' favorite museum pound-for-pound.

A world-class research center and museum tucked into a complex of historic Creole townhouses on Royal Street, housing one of the finest archives of Louisiana and Gulf South history anywhere. The rotating gallery exhibitions are consistently excellent and often overlooked by tourists. Admission to the galleries is free; guided tours of the historic buildings and Williams Residence are modestly priced. Caveat: the research rooms require appointments and the space can feel compact during popular exhibitions.

One of the twin landmark buildings flanking St. Louis Cathedral, housing two excellent permanent exhibits: a moving Hurricane Katrina floor and a joyous Mardi Gras floor above it. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9am-4pm, about $11 — the best value museum in the Quarter, and the Katrina exhibit is quietly essential for understanding this city.

The city's oldest fine-arts museum, a 1911 neoclassical beauty at the entrance of City Park with strong French, American, and photography collections — and next door, the free 12-acre Besthoff Sculpture Garden, which alone justifies the streetcar ride. Museum admission about $15, closed Mondays, free Wednesdays for Louisiana residents.

America's official WWII museum and the city's most polished attraction — a multi-building campus of immersive galleries, aircraft, and oral histories in the Warehouse District. Open daily 9am-5pm; adults $36, and honestly you need most of a day. Even people who 'don't do museums' come out moved. The price stings; the museum earns it.

Housed in the 1823 apothecary shop of America's first licensed pharmacist, Louis Dufilho Jr., this quirky gem on Chartres Street is one of the most distinctive small museums in the country. The collection includes 19th-century surgical tools, patent medicines, voodoo potions, and a stunning antique apothecary counter. It's eerie, fascinating, and totally unique to New Orleans. Caveat: it's a small space and can feel rushed if a tour group arrives at the same time.

One of the finest examples of American Federal architecture in the French Quarter, the Hermann-Grima House offers guided tours that illuminate antebellum New Orleans domestic life with unusual depth and honesty, including frank discussion of the enslaved people who lived and worked there. The restored kitchen hosts periodic Creole cooking demonstrations. It's a thoughtful, unhurried experience that serious history visitors consistently rate above flashier attractions. Caveat: it's tour-only and schedules are limited, so check times before arriving.

Located in the historic Tremé neighborhood — the oldest African American neighborhood in the country — this museum occupies a beautifully restored Creole villa and explores the rich cultural, artistic, and political history of Black New Orleans. The collection includes paintings, sculpture, and artifacts tied to Tremé's unique heritage including jazz, Mardi Gras Indians, and civil rights. It's an intimate, community-rooted experience that feels genuinely local. Caveat: hours can be limited and it's worth calling ahead to confirm before visiting.

Relocated to a stunning new facility in City Park in 2019, this is one of the best children's museums in the South, with thoughtfully designed interactive exhibits tied to Louisiana's environment, food culture, and community life. The outdoor spaces integrating the park's natural landscape are especially impressive. It's genuinely fun for adults accompanying kids. Caveat: it gets very busy on weekends and during school holidays, and parking in City Park can be a challenge.

One of the largest insect museums in North America, the Insectarium in the historic Federal Building on Canal Street is a genuinely thrilling experience for visitors of all ages. Highlights include a live butterfly garden, a termite colony display, and — for the brave — an insect tasting station. It's part of the Audubon Nature Institute family and consistently well-maintained. Caveat: it's primarily aimed at families and younger visitors, and the Canal Street location means parking requires a garage.