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A National Historic Landmark and a house museum in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The house was built in 1831 and served as the residence of Hermann and Grima families until in the 1920s it was purchased by the non-profit organization ‘Christian Woman’s Exchange,’ that turned it into a boarding house for single women, and a place where they can sell their homemade products. In the 1970s, the organization converted the house to a museum that preserves the rich history of the 19th-century house and the communal space which supports the women of New Orleans. The museum allows a glimpse to lives in historical and social contexts, homeowners and tenants, free people, and enslaved ones. Walk through its rooms, outbuildings, and courtyard, and explore original periodic items, from kitchen equipment to family portraits and furniture of various eras, including American/Late Empire style, Restoration style, Pillar and scroll Victorian style and Rococo Revival style. Don’t miss the Exchange Shop, where women can put up to sell their handicraft and artworks, enjoy the wide range of exhibitions and special events, including Sketching in the Courtyard, The History of Creole Cooking lecture, and the annual Mourning Exhibit. Read more...

Longue Vue House and Gardens is a historic house museum, one of the last great houses built in the American Architectural Renaissance style. Each facade of the house has a different appearance and leading to a different garden with various species of plants and flowers. The eight acre estate was the home of Edgar and Edith Stern, local philanthropists who supported education, arts, and social justice. The Sterns envision the house, and with the help of the landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman, their dream came true. The renovation began in 1934 and lasted for 15 years. For the next decade, the house was a gathering point for many notable people, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, John and Robert Kennedy, and Pablo Casals. Stroll the gardens and visit the house and its 20 rooms, every one of them is decorated differently and has its own purpose – such as the Blue Room, the Drawing Room, the Wrapping Room, and the Flower Arranging Room. View original furniture and items, including Eastern European carpets, Chinese porcelain, continental potteries, ethnic costumes, collections of needlework, and technology items that were early at the time. Don’t miss the Sterns private art gallery, which displays artworks of contemporary artists, such as Pablo Picasso, Barbara Hepworth, Jean Arp, and Jaacov Agam. Also, you can take a glimpse of the original plans for the house and gardens, enjoy current exhibitions, and participate in special events, such as ‘Mardi Gras Gardeners,’ ‘Baby Balancing Acts,’ and ‘Kid Yoga in the Garden.’ Read more...

The Old Ursuline Convent Museum is a Catholic Cultural Center, preserving and commemorating the contributions of the Catholic church on the American settlement community of New Orleans. The convent, established in the 18th century, is one of the oldest buildings in the French Quarter and designated as a national historic landmark. In addition to a nunnery, the convert has been a hospital, school for girls, archdiocesan central office, as well as an archbishop’s residence. Learn about the history of the Catholic church in New Orleans and its impact on society. Explore the Archdiocesan archives, including sacramental records of baptisms and marriages, and read letters written by the founding nuns. See the original cypress staircase, discover the convent’s rooms and the art display of statues, bronze busts, and oil paintings of leading figures and symbols of the church. Stroll the herb garden and the courtyard, and enjoy special events, including ‘Giving Tuesday’, exhibition previews, and the Archdiocesan Tricentennial Gala. Read more...

Located inside Arnaud’s, one of the biggest Creole restaurants in New Orleans is The Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum, that displays a collection of Mardi Gras costumes that were used by the women of the family. Thirteen queen customs that Germaine Cazenave Wells wore over 22 Mardi Gras balls from 1937 to 1968, one queen custom of Germaine’s mother, Lady Irma, that was worn in 1941, and one of Germaine’s daughter. In addition to the customs collection, there are masks, jewelry, and photographs of traditional Mardi Gras festivals. Read more...