New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)

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.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Is NOMA good for kids?

The sculpture garden is fantastic for kids — outdoor, free, and full of huge strange objects. Inside is a standard art museum; an hour is about right for most families, and the under-19 free admission makes it a cheap experiment.

What is NOMA known for?

Strong French and American art (fitting for this city), an excellent photography collection, Louisiana and Southern works, and good rotating exhibitions. It's a satisfying two-hour museum rather than an exhausting encyclopedic one.

Can I combine NOMA with City Park attractions?

That's the move — the sculpture garden, the botanical garden, Café du Monde's park location, and the ancient live oaks are all within a ten-minute walk. NOMA plus the park is a full, cheap, lovely half day.

What days is NOMA closed?

Mondays. Otherwise it's open 10am-5pm, with a later noon-7pm schedule on Wednesdays — those Wednesday evenings are the quietest time to see the collection.

Is the Besthoff Sculpture Garden really free?

Yes — the 12-acre garden with dozens of major works (Rodin to contemporary) is free and open daily, separate from museum admission. If you do nothing else out here, do the garden.

How do I get to NOMA from the French Quarter?

Take the Canal Street streetcar marked 'City Park/Museum' to the end of the line — it drops you at the park entrance facing the museum, about 30-40 minutes from the Quarter. It's the nicest cheap ride in the city.

Is there food at NOMA?

There's a café in the museum, and the City Park Café du Monde outpost — same beignets, shorter lines than the Quarter — is a four-minute walk. Morning beignets, then museum, is the correct order.

How much is NOMA admission?

Around $15 for adults with discounts for seniors, military, and students, and free for youth under 19 thanks to the Helis Foundation — but pricing has varied recently with special exhibitions, so check noma.org before you go. Louisiana residents get free Wednesdays.

Nearby in Ask New Orleans

• Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture GardenAttraction0.06 km · 1 min walk
• Louisiana Children's MuseumMuseum0.41 km · 5 min walk
• Toups' MeateryRestaurant0.62 km · 8 min walk
• Pelican ProduceMarket0.73 km · 9 min walk
• New Orleans City ParkPark0.86 km · 11 min walk