French Quarter Visitor Center

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

 

THE FRENCH QUARTER VISITOR CENTER IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 SAFETY CONCERNS. NO RE-OPENING DATE HAS BEEN DETERMINED. Closure of the center was determined following guidance from the CDC, state and local health authorities, and NPS Public Health Service officers. Learn more at the alerts and conditions page.

WHAT'S HAPPENING:
TEMPORARILY CANCELLED History talk - 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Join a ranger or park volunteer to discover New Orleans' history and culture. No talk on federal holidays or on Mardi Gras when the visitor center is closed. Free.

 

Learn and Explore

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 park 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.

More New Orleans

• Our Events Calendar
• Guide to French Quarter Historic Homes
• 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.

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. 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.

 

Duration:

3 minutes, 38 seconds

On National Listening Day we explored the rich sounds of the New Orleans Riverfront

 

What sounds do you hear around you?

Often we are so busy that we don’t even think about the sounds that surround us. World Listening Day takes place each year on July 18 and is sponsored by the World Listening Project. For this day, we offer you a video filmed throughout a June day in 2020 along the Mississippi Riverfront in New Orleans. What sounds do you hear in the video? How do these sounds make you feel? We also invite you to take a few moments in your own neighborhood to be quite and listen to the sounds around you.