French Quarter Visitor Center

Exhibits in the French Quarter Visitor Center highlight south Louisiana culture, nature, history, and (of course) food.

 

WHAT'S HAPPENING:

Ranger talk - 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Join a ranger to discover New Orleans' history and culture. No talk on federal holidays when the visitor center is closed. Free.

Black Carnival in New Orleans: Costumes, Rhythms, & Footwork - 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 23. Join Dianne Honore (aka Gumbo Marie) to celebrate Black History Month. Discover how Carnival traditions evolved in New Orleans' African American community from African diaspora contributions to baby dolls. It's all about what you wear, what you play, and your fancy footwork! Here's a pdf of a Black Carnival flier to download, print, and share. Free.

American Indians of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast - 2:00 p.m. Tuesdays only in February and March (no talk Tuesday, March 5; center closed for Mardi Gras). Indian tribes and nations fought with, did business with, and were enslaved by Louisiana's European settlers. Get an overview of their story from 1700 to today. Free.

Special exhibit "The ART of Citizenship" - Who's a citizen? Who decides? Park staff, the Young Artist Movement and the Arts Council New Orleans considered these questions through dialogues, field trips, historical research, and guest speakers with the goal of creating a mural to share what they learned. The project was organized around The Chinese Exclusion Act, a 2017 documentary which shared the history of Chinese immigration to the United States and the impact of the 1882 federal law that specifically singled out people from China, excluding them from immigration and citizenship. The mural, on display at the French Quarter Visitor Center, shares visions of and questions about citizenship that are still under discussion today.Youth interns led by local artist Ayo Scott created the mural with help from over 100 people who participated in a community paint day.

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Shortly after the French founded New Orleans in 1718, engineers drew up a formal city plan for Nouvelle Orleans---the area that we now call the French Quarter. The city quickly expanded beyond those original boundaries to become an important American port. People arrived from all over the world, joining the early inhabitants of the area to create a distinct culture rich in food, music, and tradition.

Jean Lafitte's French Quarter Visitor Center shares the history and traditions of the city and the lower Mississippi River delta through visitor center exhibits and a film. Kids can earn a badge with the Junior Ranger program. The center's museum store has CDs, videos, collectibles, and books from history to cookbooks to children's stories. Admission is free. Follow these links for the park's calendar of events, exhibits, and programs; for directions and transportation options; and for accessibility information. Note that there is no parking available at the French Quarter Visitor Center but that there are several pay-to-park lots available within easy walking distance.

419 Decatur Street, New Orleans
504-589-3882 ext. 221
Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Closed on federal holidays and Mardi Gras (Tuesday, March 5, in 2019). Links to useful information like maps, public transportation, pets, permits for special uses, etc., are available on the basic information page.

Special programs by reservation:

• Field trips for schools and other groups by reservation.

For more about New Orleans, see

• guide to historic homes and museums in the French Quarter
• New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

 

The French Quarter Visitor Center is full of maps, images, and interactive exhibits that share the Louisiana delta's history.