Best History Museum in Garden District

"Originally named the National D-Day Museum, and located in New Orleans because the flat bottomed Higgins boats used in the invasion were made here, this museum is a must see for every history buff. Besides extensive and interactive exhibits on the Pacific and European theaters, the museum includes a special section on the Normandy Invasion and thousands of three-dimensional artifacts representative of the war years both at home and overseas. December 2014 marks the opening of the newest Pavilion, Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters, and the Road to Berlin exhibit.From the "Steel Pot" helmet to the impressive Sherman tank, the Museum's artifacts bring the people and places of World War II into sharp focus."

"New Orleans is where Higgins boats were designed, built and tested. These landing craft were pivotal to amphibious invasions like Normandy in 1944, and so it’s fitting that New Orleans’ superb National WWII Museum should have opened on D-Day’s 56th anniversary on June 6, 2000. As you enter you’ll be given a dog tag, which you can scan at stations around the museum for compelling personal profiles."

"Older kids and adults will find this exemplary museum worth exploring. Exhibits examine America's contribution to the Allied victory in World War II, with a multi-sensory cinematic feature produced and narrated by Tom Hanks playing at the 4D Solomon Victory Theater. A post shared by The National WWII Museum (@wwiimuseum) on Mar 31, 2018 at 3:03pm PDT"

"French QuarterFounded in 1966, THNOC is a museum, and also a research center that aims to preserve and celebrate the artistic and cultural history of NOLA and the Gulf South. It occupies several beautiful and historic buildings in the French Quarter, making it easy to tour if you’re visiting NOLA, staying downtown, and hoping to stay classy between Hurricanes. Best of all, it’s totally free to one and all (though you might be sucked into purchasing something cool at their gift shop)."

"The HNOC is on a mission to preserve the French Quarter and New Orleans history. The space houses seven different exhibition halls with constantly evolving collections. Afro-Creole poetry, French Quarter life, second lines and social aid & pleasure clubs are just a few highlights."

"Right in the heart of the French Quarter, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum contains a huge collection of apothecary jars with original ingredients, medical instruments, surgical tools, and much more. There is information about different questionable medical practices used over the years for people who don’t get freaked out too easily. You can learn more about voodoo potions, opium, and different ingredients used in medicines in the past."

"Experience what getting medical treatment was like in 1823 at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic building, and the exhibits offer plenty of historical curiosity as well. Get a glimpse into questionable 19th century medical practices and step into a recreated physician’s study and sick room."

"Structured as a pharmacy back in the day, New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is now a museum with exhibits featuring early medicines and superstitious cures, among other things."

"It’s also an excellent place to people watch and where a number of New Orleans’ historical landmarks like The St Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, and The Presbytère are located (with Preservation Hall and The Historic New Orleans Collection nearby). Tons of artists, musicians, and fortune tellers hang out in Jackson Square and in the spirit of disclosure, I spent most of my time here people-watching and eating beignets. However, if you want to be a little more cultured than I was, visit one or several of the above-mentioned landmarks for even more NOLA history."

"The Cabildo’s twin, facing Jackson Square on the north side of the cathedral, is from 1791 and held as one of the masterpieces of colonial Spanish architecture. Previously the domestic quarters, or presbytère, for the cathedral’s Capuchin monks had stood on this spot, which explains the name. This ornate building has come through a few different uses, and was a courthouse from 1834 to 1911."

"After Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana, much of New Orleans was flooded as the levees broke and the sea rushed in. The 9th Ward in particular was one of the hurricane’s biggest victims, suffering losses in both lives and properties when the Industrial Canal levee broke. This corner of the city has since remained largely empty, with many of its original residents simply choosing to not return."

"Explore the history of New Orleans' historic Lower 9th Ward pre-, during, and post- Hurricane Katrina. Admission is always free."

"Other plantations in the area to consider are the Laura Plantation, the Houmas House Plantation, the Nottoway Plantation, and the Whitney Plantation, among others. The Whitney Plantation is newly renovated and has an exhibit that focuses on the children of slavery that is said to be deeply moving and emotional."

"Whitney Plantation, on the other hand, focuses on slavery and what life was like for the slaves living on the plantation. There are personal narratives and exhibits of the slaves who lived on the plantation which can certainly be more emotional but important history to understand nevertheless."

"If you’re going to visit any plantations, please make The Whitney Plantation a priority. It’s the first slavery museum in America, dedicated to telling the history of slaves in their own words, taken from historical records."

"A most intriguing New Orleans attraction, the Historic Voodoo Museum is surrounded with its fair share of lore, intrigue and notoriety. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, this unusual museum's flexible hours and affordable admission prices make it a must-see, even for skeptics. The dim halls are filled with antique altars, African artifacts used in the practice of this religion and works of art, allowing visitors an enlightened look at an interesting, often misunderstood, aspect of New Orleans culture."

"The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is the perfect place to head to if you’re interested in the lengthy history and the intricacies of the mysterious, often misunderstood religious and cultural practice of voodoo. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in this Louisiana city, and for good reason; few can separate the legacy that voodoo has left on New Orleans. The museum was founded by a man named Charles Massicot Gandolfo in the year 1972."

"Tucked away by a Lakeview shopping center, Ming’s isn’t a typical Chinese joint. This Cantonese restaurant is open, airy, sans red dragon decor, and offers outside seating. There are cheap traditional lunch specials but chef and owner Ming Joe has a few tricks up his sleeve."

"By definition, that means they deviate from the norm, or the expected. Let’s be honest, it looks a little like the Department of Motor Vehicles when you walk in."

"It just so happened that we were in New Orleans on Valentine’s Day, and dinner at Dickie Brennan’s Tableau was the perfect setting. We don’t normally do “fancy” when eating out with our kids, and I guess dinner with a ten and six-year-old is not that romantic, but we loved this family experience and felt very welcomed. Tableau is a member of the famed Brennan restaurant family and offers classic French-Creole cooking in an elegant 3-story townhouse with an open kitchen & balcony."

"Tableau, Dickie Brennan’s latest production, opened in the spring of 2013. Located on Jackson Square attached to the historic Le Petit Theatre; Tableau is in the heart of the French Quarter. Tableau showcases regional ingredients and classic Creole dishes revisited."

"If it's a truly French brasserie setting you crave with the emphasis on locally sourced seafood and Southern hospitality, you've come to the right spot. Offering a trendy, convivial atmosphere, top notch service and an extensive raw bars to boot, Luke is a dream come true for shellfish enthusiasts. If selections like fresh local oysters and littleneck clams don't pique your appetite, choose from a host of other menu items like the local crabmeat omelet or the signature Luke burger."

"Luke is a French-style brasserie serving French and German inspired cuisine with a Louisiana twist. The menu here is very ‘old world’ and uses slow and traditional cooking techniques. We recommend ordering their Blue Crab Gratin plate to share which is made with spinach, Emmenthaler cheese and country bread croutons."

"A Creole-inspired brasserie located in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District on world-famous St. Charles Avenue, Luke sits just steps away from the French Quarter."