The Presbytère (Louisiana State Museum)
8.2Friend Score / 10#3 of 10 Museums in New Orleans
Known formuseummardi grashurricane katrinalouisiana history
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.
Key facts
| Hours | Tue–Sun 09:00–16:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Riverfront streetcar or short walk from Canal Street; it's on Jackson Square |
| Time needed | 1.5-2 hours |
| Best time to go | Morning opening; midday when you need air conditioning during a Quarter walk |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.2/10- Value8.5
- iconic7.0
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level7.5
- Authenticity7.5
- Accessibility9.0
Frequently asked questions
- What's inside the Presbytère?
- Two permanent exhibits: 'Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond' on the ground floor — rescue, failure, rebuilding — and 'Mardi Gras: It's Carnival Time in Louisiana' upstairs, with costumes, floats, and throw history. Devastation below, celebration above; very New Orleans.
- How much does the Presbytère cost?
- About $11 for adults, $9 for seniors, students, and military, free for kids 6 and under. Buying tickets to multiple Louisiana State Museums at once gets you a discount, and the Cabildo next door is the natural pairing.
- Is the Presbytère wheelchair accessible?
- Yes — elevators serve both exhibit floors, unusual for a French Quarter historic building. It's one of the more accessible attractions in the Quarter.
- Presbytère or Cabildo — which should I pick?
- The Presbytère if you want Katrina and Mardi Gras — the two most New Orleans subjects there are. The Cabildo covers broader Louisiana history (and the Louisiana Purchase room). With the multi-museum discount, honestly, do both.
- How long does the Presbytère take?
- Ninety minutes to two hours. It's the ideal midday air-conditioned break in a French Quarter walking day — you're on Jackson Square when you're done.
- Is the Mardi Gras exhibit worth it if I'm not visiting during Carnival?
- That's exactly when it's most worth it — costumes, crown jewels, float pieces, and the history of krewes give you the Carnival immersion without the crowds. Kids love this floor.
- What are the Presbytère's hours?
- Tuesday through Sunday, 9am to 4pm — closed Mondays. Two hours covers both floors without rushing.
- Is the Katrina exhibit hard to take?
- It's emotional — real rooftop-rescue artifacts, survivor testimony, and an unflinching account of the levee failures — but it's constructive rather than gratuitous. If you want to understand modern New Orleans, this hour matters more than any walking tour.
Nearby in Ask New Orleans
- Jackson SquareLandmark0.04 km · 1 min walk
- St. Louis CathedralLandmark0.04 km · 1 min walk
- The CabildoAttraction0.06 km · 1 min walk
- French Quarter (Vieux Carré)Neighborhood0.13 km · 2 min walk
- Café du MondeCafé0.16 km · 2 min walk
Where to stay near The Presbytère (Louisiana State Museum)
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