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The Historic New Orleans Collection
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A free history museum and research center devoted to the people, places, and traditions of New Orleans and the Gulf South.

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Hours & Location Hours & Location

Museum: 520 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA
Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

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Holiday Hours

Admission Admission

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Stop by the front desk or reserve tickets online. Ticket covers admission to all exhibitions and certain daily programs.

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Contact Us Contact Us

Museum: (504) 523-4662 
Williams Research Center: (504) 598-7171
Mailing address: 533 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130

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Current Exhibitions

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A photo shows a museum visitor using a Histopad to view Washington crossing the Delaware in augmented reality.
Colonial Wars & Conflicts

American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition

March 20, 2026 to January 17, 2027
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Music & Musicians

New Orleans Musicians in Art: Selections from the Permanent Collection

November 4, 2025 to May 16, 2027
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Black and white photo of people in line for voting registration outside a building. Two men are seated near a Voting Applications sign, and several individuals are standing in line, some wearing hats and summer clothing.
The Civil Rights Movement

The Trail They Blazed

June 6, 2025 to June 7, 2026
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A group of people sits at a diner counter. A woman drinks from a soda bottle, while another eats a burger. A man is smoking a cigarette. The counter is filled with plates and glasses, and the background shows shelves with various items.
The Civil Rights Movement

The Trail They Blazed (Traveling)

January 6 to April 19, 2026
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Illustration of a brown pelican perched on a branch with green leaves in the background. The bird has a long beak and distinctive brown, white, and yellow plumage. The botanical details add a naturalistic setting.
Land Loss & Climate Change

A Vanishing Bounty: Louisiana’s Coastal Environment and Culture

Ongoing
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French Quarter street scene showing at 710 Toulouse Street, and corner of shuttered building at 714 Toulouse, with a man walking along the street in the darkness, his shadow falling upon the wall. Shows cat beside colonnette supporting balcony, a street light, double doorway of the gateway, laundry hanging on second floor of 710 Toulouse, and ironwork balcony of 714 Toulouse. Shows partial view of balcony and building at corner of Toulouse and Royal Streets.
French Quarter Life

French Quarter Life: People and Places in the Vieux Carré

Ongoing
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Antique map of a city grid with detailed plots, streets, and buildings. It includes a compass rose and features ships sailing on the river at the bottom. The layout is intricate, showcasing a geometrically organized urban plan.
French Quarter Life

French Quarter Galleries

Ongoing
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Tours & Daily Programs

Get more out of your museum visit with a guided tour, Exhibition Shortcut, or daily program.

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A guide gestures towards a historical photograph on the wall while speaking to a man and a woman in a gallery setting. The wall has an exhibit description titled A Most Dreadful Visitation: Frederick Douglass and The 1887 Riot.
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Museum Admission is Always Free


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Latest News

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Still rendering from "American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition" showing General Washington planning the crossing of the Delaware River

HNOC Commemorates America’s 250th Anniversary with Special Programs in 2026

From concerts to panel discussions, the Collection joins organizations across the country in marking the anniversary.
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Still rendering from "American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition" showing the Boston Tea Party.

Country Roads Magazine: Time Travel on Royal Street

Read an exclusive preview of HNOC’s new exhibition, “American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition,” on view until January 17, 2027.
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Still rendering from "American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition" showing a Spanish artillery battery.

NOLA.com: A Place That Embodies What America Is About

In a guest column for NOLA.com | “The Times Picayune,” HNOC President and CEO Daniel Hammer invites readers to view 250 years of American history through a local lens.
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A street view of 416 Chartres Street

Louisiana Landmarks Society Honors HNOC’s Renovation of Former K-Paul’s Restaurant

The Collection’s 416 Chartres Street project received a 2026 Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation.
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Dede and Basile

New Orleans Jazz Museum to Screen Award-Winning Documentary Made with HNOC Support

“What We Can Know About Edmond and Basile” was named 2026 Humanity Documentary of the Year by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
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Upcoming Events

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Saturday
April 11, 2026
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Community Day

Community Day: Music at the Museum

Join us for live music, gallery talks, and hands-on activities at our annual day of family fun.
Community Day
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20250412 MIH Community Day KM017
Wednesday
April 15, 2026
6–7:30 p.m.
27th Annual Bill Russell Lecture

Syncopated Siblings: The Music of Cuba and New Orleans

Hear the shared musical legacy of Cuba and New Orleans in this lecture and concert featuring author and historian Ned Sublette, joined by legendary percussionist Bill Summers and his supergroup, CUBANEXION.
Signature Program, Lecture, Concert
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View of a Cuban folk dance where a man dances among women wearing floor length dresses and holding tamborines.
Thursday
April 16, 2026
2–4:30 p.m.

“Tierra Sagrada” Film Screening and Q&A

HNOC and Postmambo Studies copresent “Tierra Sagrada,” a thrilling documentary offering a rare look at Afro-Cuban music and cultural traditions.
Film
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Film still of Cuban drums from "Tierra Sagrada." Courtesy of Ned Sublette
Saturday
April 18, 2026
1–4 p.m.

Cosimo at 100: The Sound That Shaped New Orleans

Join HNOC and host Nick Spitzer for a discussion and birthday celebration honoring legendary New Orleans music producer Cosimo Matassa.
Panel Discussion, Reception
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Cosimo Matassa at Jazz Fest in 1986.
Friday
May 8, 2026
5–7 p.m.
Courtyard Sessions

Catie Rodgers and Her Swing Orchestra Featuring Lena Prima

HNOC kicks off its Courtyard Sessions concert series with a tribute to the Great American Songbook.
French Quarter Fridays, Concert, America 250
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Catie Rodgers Swing Orchestra
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Research & Collections

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410 Chartres Street

Visit the Williams Research Center

Explore centuries of Gulf South culture with unparalleled access to rare documents, art, and historic treasures. Stop in or browse our online catalog.

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Online Catalog
A historic brick building with tall, arched windows and ornate stone details. The facade features a central sign with engraved text. Large doors and lantern-style lights flank the entrance. The structure is framed by neighboring buildings.

From Our Holdings

Explore historic artifacts from HNOC’s vault.

Collection Highlights Collection Highlights
Collection highlights

“The Scourged Back”

HNOC acquired an original copy of the infamous image that took Civil War-era America by storm, quickly becoming a tool of the abolitionist cause.

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A vibrant, crowded scene depicting a diverse group of people gathered in a lively setting. The backdrop features arches and draped curtains. The individuals are dressed in various colorful, eclectic styles, with expressions suggesting a festive atmosphere.
Artist Archives

Burning Orchid Nightclub

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A smiling woman with curly hair poses in a white outfit and heels. Text reads Chris Owens: Electrifying One Woman Show.
Recent Acquisitions

Chris Owens Collection

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A photograph of the cover of “The Land We Love” magazine, Vol. 1, No. 5 (1866); Vol. 2, No. 2 (1866), September 1866.
Rare Books & Periodicals

The Land We Love

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Cover of the book Mosquitoes by William Faulkner. It features red illustrations of mosquitoes and diagonal red text on a pale green background. The author is also noted as the writer of Soldiers Pay.
Rare Books & Periodicals

Mosquitoes

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A vintage sheet music cover titled The Mysterious Axmans Jazz (Dont Scare Me Papa). It shows a chaotic scene with musicians playing and a startled woman at a piano. Two inset portraits are at the bottom.
Staff Picks

The Mysterious Axman’s Jazz

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A cropped view shows a sailing ship entering the Mississippi River in an engraving from Harper’s Weekly.
Staff Picks

The South Pass Jetties of the Mississippi

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A close-up of an ancient artifact showcasing intricate circular engravings with faded symbols and a star design. The piece is metallic with a worn, darkened surface, suggesting historical significance.
Staff Picks

Ursuline Communion Wafer Iron

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Recent Acquisitions

Bob Kaufman Broadside Poems

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First Draft

Visit the Blog Visit the Blog

Stories from the Historic New Orleans Collection

First Draft

Glasnost Menagerie

Even while denigrating his work, Soviet reviewers set the stage for Tennessee Williams’s popularity in Russia.

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Dust jacket on the first USSR edition of Williams’s plays, Iskusstvo, 1967.
1974 25 15 91 Storyville map web
FIRST DRAFT NEWSLETTER

New Orleans Stories,
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History For Everyone

Dive into family friendly content and events at HNOC.

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Events

Community Day: Music at the Museum

April 11, 2026, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Join us for live music, gallery talks, and hands-on activities at our annual day of family fun.
Register Register
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20250412 MIH Community Day KM017

Publishing

Explore our publications, from HNOC books to the First Draft blog.

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Shop & Relax

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The Shop

Our award-winning museum shop offers gifts by local artists, HNOC books, merchandise inspired by objects from our holdings, and much more.

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The Café

Relax and recharge while enjoying a coffee or pastry in our historic and picturesque Brulatour Courtyard.

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Donate & Support

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Become a Member

The Collection is for everyone! Get the most out of your visit to HNOC and find the membership level right for you.

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A man helps a young girl adjust her headphones at an interactive exhibit in a museum. They stand by a display with screens and audio equipment, focused on the experience. The background features informational plaques on the wall.
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