Best Museums in Storyville

"Head to New Orleans' Central Business District for a look into the United States' contributions to the Allies and eventual victory in World War II, as well as the battle of Normandy. This museum prides itself in providing an emphasis on the American experience during this war and is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, so you can be sure that you'll leave educated and satisfied with your experience at the museum. It definitely should be on your list of places to visit in New Orleans!"

"Did you know that the #2 user-rated museum in the world is in New Orleans?. And did you know its subject is the second World War?. Or did you know that the architects who won the competition build it were awarded the commission because of the brilliant, multi-building phasing scheme they devised?"

"The WWII museum is said to be one of the best in the USA and is another great option. Dinner at Bacchanal Wine Bar"

"The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is Smithsonian-affiliated and, as its name suggests, celebrates the culture and aesthetic of Southern artists. The permanent collection showcases more than 4,000 pieces from 15 states; in fact, with works dating back to 1733, the institution boasts the most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world. Exhibits feature paintings, photography, sculpture, and handicrafts, and place historical works alongside contemporary artists working in the South."

"Having opened in 1911, the New Orleans Museum of Art is the city’s oldest fine art institution. Back then, it had just a few art pieces but has since grown to house over 40,000 objects with a notable collection of French and American art. The museum is also home to the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, with over 90 sculptures on display in the 11-acre landscaped garden."

"When the NOMA opened in 1911, it only held nine pieces of art. Today, its permanent collection is composed of more than 40,000 objects, with a particularly strong representation of American and French art. Highlights include works by Matisse, Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Pollock, O’Keeffe and Degas, who lived in New Orleans from 1871 to 1872."

"Our own French Quarter neighborhood offers plenty of history to explore, including some of the best museums in New Orleans. The Historic New Orleans Collection is both a museum and research center dedicated to the study and preservation of local and regional history. They have two French Quarter locations, and at the Williams Research Center (410 Chartres Street) you can visit their exhibit, “African Heritage of New Orleans: 300 Years in the Making,” which tells the story of the “African presence in New Orleans and its development of a uniquely African cultural identity in New Orleans, from its founding in 1718 to the post-Civil Rights period.” The exhibit is open until December 8, 2018, and admission to this exhibit is free."

"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 Historic New Orleans Collection was founded in 1966 with the goal of preserving the French Quarter area. There are eight different buildings that have been restored and are a part of the Royal Street Complex. The organization has put together eight different themed walking tours that will explore different aspects of the French Quarter depending on what is most interesting to you."

"Located in a French Quarter building where the nation’s first licensed pharmacist, Louis J. Dufilho, Jr., lived and practiced in the 1800s, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is a time-travel extravaganza. You can visit independently, but the insightful (and included with admission) 1 p.m. tour on weekdays is worthwhile to hear about medicine’s fascinating, unsterilized history and to eyeball some seriously iffy relics, like lead syringes, bottles once filled with opium-based teething formulas, strychnine-laced cosmetics, and over-the-counter heroin; plus, here’s your chance to view a pig’s-rib toothbrush and a calcified goat’s hairball."

"Who knew the world of pharmaceuticals could be so fascinating?. At least at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, it is!. What is now a museum was originally the apothecary of the United State’s first, licensed pharmacist, Louis Dufilho Jr."

"The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is technically a part of the New Orleans Museum of Art, but it’s one of those places to visit that deserves its very own part of this listing since many come by just to visit the garden on its own. Right near the main NOMA building, an 11-acre expanse of garden stretches out, decorated with over 90 different sculptures. The gardens first opened in 2003 and have grown in size ever since it made its home in the rear of the Louisiana museum."

"Located directly adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art, the five-acre park provides a delightful instance for exploring the picturesque landscape of live oaks, Spanish moss, and lagoons. The 64 sculptures are, of course, another strong reason to venture to the garden. Location: 1 Collins Diboll CirArchitect: Lee Ledbetter Architects, Sawyer/Berson Architecture And Landscape ArchitectureDate: 2003Contact: https://noma.org/sculpture-garden"

"The NOMA Sculpture Garden is another great part of City Park. It is a a free portion of the NOMA Museum and, as with everything in City Park, is surprisingly large, with a ton of sculptures placed among beautiful trees and small ponds. There are plenty of fun statues that make for great Instagram shots."

"A post shared by Whitney Plantation (@whitneyplantation) on Mar 29, 2018 at 1:39pm PDT Unless you have a car with you, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to visit a plantation the same day as doing a swamp tour because they’re located far apart. However, if you do choose to do a plantation tour, choose Whitney Plantation, the only plantation museum in Louisiana with a focus on slavery. Unfortunately, I did not do my research and visited a different plantation house and was incredibly disappointed that they didn’t address slavery whatsoever."

"The Whitney Plantation House is meant to be the best one which doesn’t just focus on the mansion and owners but instead focuses on slavery and is turned into a slavery museum, with the money benefitting descendants of slaves (from what I’m told). I am really bummed I didn’t go here – I thought they might be unethical, then Sam talked to some locals who said this place was legit and totally a do-not-miss. Something to do on the next trip."

"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."

"Local music fans, neighborhood drinkers, and curious tourists all come to see one of the city's favorite sons, Kermit Ruffins, in action at his namesake bar. Inside has the feeling of a tricked-out family basement, but with Mardi Gras colored tiling. The drinks are cheap, the food is (often) free, and the music flows like the lifeblood of the Seventh Ward."

"Before visiting New Orleans for the third time last fall, I binge-watched the HBO series Treme on Amazon Prime. The show is named after the neighborhood north of the French Quarter, where jazz music was born in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Several of the lead characters are musicians; viewers are treated to a lot of terrific music."

"Are you looking for a great place to watch live entertainment around New Orleans, Louisiana?. If so, you should head on over to Kermit's Treme Mother in Law..."

"Louisiana's Civil War Museum, formerly known as the Confederate Museum, is one of the largest repositories of Confederacy-related artifacts and memorabilia in the United States. Housed in a stone Romanesque-style building, this is the oldest museum in Louisiana. The Confederate Memorial Hall Museum opened to the public in 1891 and today houses the second largest Civil War collection in the world."

"Confederate Memorial Hall opened in 1891, making it the oldest collection of Confederate memorabilia in the US. It started after resident Frank T. Howard wrote a letter to the Louisiana Historical Association requesting acknowledgement of the Civil War’s survivors and victims. Here, you’ll embark on a journey through the military history and heritage of the South."

"Louisiana’s Civil War Museum opened in 1891, making it the oldest operating museum in Louisiana. It is also known as the Confederate Memorial Hall Museum. Here, you’ll find a large collection of historical artifacts from the Civil War."

"Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, (504) 262-0750; 2904 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 885-5565; 3233 Magazine St., (504) 262-6019; 9647 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge, (504) 737-8146; www.breauxmart.com. Crawfish dip is made with crawfish tails, cream cheese, sour cream, onions, hot sauce and lemon juice."

"The fact that Gracious now has three locations plus a cafe in NOCHI, the fancy new culinary school, speaks for itself. Word of this upbeat, modern, and light-filled breakfast and lunch spot from pastry chef Megan Forman quickly spread and with good reason: Gracious serves up satisfying sandwiches on homemade bread that won’t leave one in a food coma. The chicken tarragon and meatloaf options are good bets."

"This locally owned bakery and cafe has multiple locations around town, all good go-tos for baked goods, breads, breakfast and lunch goodies. Last year they added doughnuts into the mix, all made inhouse, from fillings to dough to toppings - no mixes here. A few to try include spiced sugar twist, honey cornmeal and classic blueberry glazed."

"What you're getting: A Pretzel Croissant Pastries, pastries, and more pastries are what you’ll find at Gracious, as well as a load of sandwiches and elegant desserts. Bonus points for its creative approach to baking, which brings with it the Hazelnut “Kermit” Cruffin, as well as Pretzel Croissants."

"Enjoy the city skyline and partake in its luxury at NOPSI Hotel’s rooftop bar, Above the Grid. Savor chilled drinks and creative, healthy fare. Locals are welcome to the rooftop bar every day after 4 p.m."

"Double Dealer gives a nod to the Prohibition era, with a secluded entrance down a long ramp towards the bar. It’s situated underneath the Orpheum Theatre, a centuries-old space that has featured Vaudeville acts, concerts and numerous theatrical productions. The bar’s theatrical aesthetics pay homage to the theatre above, as well as featuring luxurious booths with speakeasy vibes and private corner spaces away from the crowd."

"Located under the Orpheum Theater, The Double Dealer is intended to be a “one-of-a-kind speakeasy” celebrating Dixie Bohemia, a term describing the writers, artists, and hangers-on in the New Orleans art scene of the 1920s. With designers Farouki Farouki behind the interior (they also did worked with Saffron and Justine), it is vibey indeed, and the cocktail menu is unique — and affordable. View this post on Instagram"

"We hope you’ll be able to curb your caffeine craving now that you know the best coffee shops in New Orleans. Stop by one of these local shops today!"

"3150 Calhoun St., (504) 301-3790; www.moesoriginalbbq.com/lo/nola. Smoked turkey breast is topped with coleslaw, pickles, Alabama-style white sauce and sweet-and-tangy barbecue sauce."

"Next up is District Donuts Sliders Brew, situated at 2209 Magazine St. With 4.5 stars out of 1,488 reviews on Yelp, the Garden District spot to score coffee and tea, doughnuts and burgers has proven to be a local favorite. Get ready for coconut mango, chocolate glazed and carrot cake doughnuts plus an assortment of savory fare like pork belly breakfast tacos, spicy smoked sausage kolaches and a croque madame with ham, havarti cheese, bechamel and a sunny-side up egg on a griddled doughnut."

"District Donuts Sliders Brew is a casual, friendly café that focuses on house-roasted coffee, sweet and sticky donuts, and mouth-watering sliders. The restaurant serves classic breakfast dishes that have been recreated with a twist, like bacon and eggs on a miso-praline biscuit, pork belly breakfast tacos, croquenuts (croque madame meets a donut), and smoked salmon and cream cheese kolaches. Good old donuts take on new flavors like candied thyme, Sriracha-maple, and cereal and milk."

"District Doughnuts Breakfast is known to be the the most important meal of the day. However, I call it sugary beginnings. At @districtdonuts you can pick..."

"With a variety of crispy toasts for you to try (avocado’s our favorite), savory grain bowls, salads, cold-pressed juices, and smoothies, The Daily Beet’s tasty, fresh vegetarian creations can be found downtown on Girod or in a brightly lit stall in St. Roch Market. The only thing that’s more pleasing than the delish food is the collection of bright and beautiful photos on The Daily Beet’s Instagram. Stay in the neighborhood a while and try out another incredible restaurant for dinner."

"We were in an Uber on the way to a basketball game, and as we drove by, the word Beet caught my eye. I had to look it up later, and now, it's probably my favorite vegetarian restaurant in New Orleans ... I come here at least once on every trip to NOLA."