Vacation travel guide to museums and historical sites of New Orleans.
Baubles, bangles and beads can be found in abundance at America's favorite party town. So can the following museums that celebrate The Big Easy's melting pot heritage, its flirtations with celebrity, and its longstanding association with the occult.
THE PRESBYTERE
Every year over six million people from around the world spill into the streets of the French Quarter to carouse with gusto in the Mardi Gras parade. Ever wonder what happens to all the floats, costumes, feathered masks and fake jewels once the celebration winds to a close? Many of them find a permanent home on 751 Chartres Street at The Presbytere. In this 18th century building that was once the address of Capuchin monks, it's "all Mardi Gras, all the time". Interactive exhibits, pageant displays, and historical timelines tell the story of how this pagan frivolity got started and evolved into the annual blitz of media madness that it is today. The Presbytere is open for self-guided tours every day except Monday. Cap your visit with a trip to the gift shop where the hardest decision you'll have to make is how many hand-painted ceramic masks will comfortably travel in the overhead rack.
THE CABILDO
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson decided that the United States could use some more real estate for westward expansion. His famous purchase took place in Sala Capitular, one of many rooms at The Cabildo in Jackson Square that tells the story of Louisiana's history. The chronological exhibitions of art and artifacts of the state are intermingled with first-hand accounts of plagues, pirates, politics, and even a short-lived campaign to persuade Napoleon Bonaparte to come and make The Paris of the Americas his new home.
EDGAR DEGAS HOUSE
Not only are visitors welcome to tour the house on Esplanade where Degas dabbled for a year in French Impressionism but those who plan in advance can even spend the night. The former home of Degas' American relatives was built in the 1850s and is the only such residence so strongly tied with his work that is open by appointment to the public.
THE NEW ORLEANS VOODOO MUSEUM
Refugee slaves from Santo Domingo first introduced this facet of the black arts to New Orleans near the end of the 18th century. At one end of the spectrum were the mysterious abilities of its herbs and potions to heal all manner of physical malady. At the other end were the incantations, evil eyes and spooky little dolls that could render one's enemies pained and powerless. Two centuries later, the practice of voodoo is still very much a part of the region's persona. Discover what keeps the magic alive with a tour of the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum on Rue Domaine between Royal and Bourbon Streets. Exhibits, gifts, and seasonal rituals can be found every day from 10 until 5.
D-DAY MUSEUM
If there's someone in your group who loves anything that has to do with military history, be sure to include the D-Day Museum on your list. This four story complex contains reproductions of aircraft, boats, and land vehicles as well as an extensive collection of artifacts, photographs and weaponry used in both the Pacific Theatre and the battles waged in Europe.
HISTORIC HOUSES
As someone who loves historic architecture more than modern, it's a toss-up for me between the following two venues: The 1850 House and Gallier House. Both of them have been restored to their original elegance and suggest to visitors that their respective owners will momentarily be returning from a carriage ride around Jackson Square. The 1850 House is located in the Lower Pontalba Building, one of two Antebellum structures built by the Baroness de Pontalba, daughter of one of the French Quarter's wealthy land barons. The self-guided tour of its interior depicts how a family of middle class Creoles lived, ate, and slept. This ethnic mix of French and Spanish is found as well in the décor of the Gallier House, a private home from the same era which was designed by one of the region's famous native sons, James Gallier. For me, one of the most intriguing aspects of the floor plan is the kitchen. Located within the main house itself, this facility represents a departure from the century's normal practice of putting the cooking area in a separate, detached building. Given the fact that fires associated with food preparation were the biggest cause of home loss, it was a bold step on the part of Gallier to put his under the same roof where the family slept. The servants, of course, had no complaints"¦and no envy of their counterparts who had to schlep entrees through wind, rain and aggressive bugs.
Also worth a mention for those who like to tour old houses is the Beauregard-Keyes estate and gardens on Chartres Street. This mansion dates from the 1820's and is named for its two most famous occupants: General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard of the Confederate Army and biographer/author Frances Parkinson Keyes. In addition to her prolific writing, the latter was also an avid collector of teapots, fans and vintage dolls, all of which comprise the onsite exhibits. The house is open every day except Sunday from 10 until 3.
BACKSTREET CULTURAL MUSEUM
You wouldn't think of a former funeral home as a place to put on your sightseeing list but in the case of Blandin's on St. Claude Avenue it will complete your education on the history of Mardi Gras. Now home to the Backstreet Cultural Museum, this is where you'll find the most extensive""and expensive""display of costumes designed and worn by the region's Mardi Gras Indians. The group's association with Shrove Tuesday festivities goes back to the days when runaway slaves used to elude capture by hiding out amongst Native American tribes. Superstition still dictates that once one of these fanciful costumes has been made and worn, it cannot be donned a second time because it would make the wearer much too easy for the evil, soul-napping spirits to locate in a crowd.
