New Orleans History Lives Here
Travel to the heart of the city and explore our complex of historic French Quarter buildings packed with the stories of the Crescent City and its surrounding region. With free admission, it’s one of the most accessible things to do in New Orleans.
Visitors are encouraged to book timed-entry tickets in advance.
THNOC is not requiring visitors to wear masks. A mask requirement may be implemented for specific events and with minimal notice. See the menu below for details.
COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and Safety Protocols
The safety and well-being of The Historic New Orleans Collection’s visitors and employees are of the utmost importance, and we have implemented the following measures:
- At this time, we do not require visitors to wear masks while on site; this policy may change depending on local conditions.
- Timed ticketing, available on the hour and half-hour, will stagger visitors as they arrive. Guests are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance; tickets may be reserved up to 30 days in advance.
- Disposable styluses are available for touchscreens and interactive devices.
A list of FAQs addresses additional components of the visitor experience.
Locations and Hours
The Historic New Orleans Collection operates three campuses in the heart of the French Quarter. The properties are located within three blocks of each other, or a 3–7 minute walk. Hours are noted below for each campus, and all facilities are closed to the public on Monday and select holidays. Details on parking and public transportation are available at the end of this page.
- 520 Royal Street, open Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Offerings include interpretative courtyard displays, the French Quarter Galleries, the Tricentennial Wing galleries, The Shop at The Collection, and The Café at the Collection.
Exhibitions are free and self-guided. When tours are available, admission is $5 per person, free for THNOC members.
View Digital Map - 533 Royal Street, temporarily closed for renovation.
- 410 Chartres Street, open Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (This location is closed every Sunday and Monday.)
- Offerings include the Williams Research Center and exhibitions. Admission to the Williams Research Center is free, but appointments are required and should be scheduled in advance. Email reference@hnoc.org or call (504) 523-4662 ext. 2001 to schedule a visit. Appointments will be taken following a short consultation with a reference staff member to ensure that on-site research is the best option.
View Digital Map - Holidays: All THNOC facilities are closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Mardi Gras (the Saturday–Tuesday immediately preceding Ash Wednesday), Easter, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.
Parking and Public Transportation
Public parking is available nearby, with the closest lots located on the 500 block of Chartres Street and the 500 block of Conti Street. Other lots are available on Decatur Street by the Mississippi River. Metered street parking is also available throughout the French Quarter, but pay close attention to signage noting parking restrictions, which can be unique to each block and vary depending on the day of the week.
Those who wish to visit THNOC via public transportation are urged to consult the maps provided by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. RTA stops for nearby bus and streetcar lines are approximately a half-mile away; the ferry terminal is approximately three-quarters of a mile from THNOC.
THNOC has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) since 1978 and offers exhibition space at all three campuses.
The Historic New Orleans Collection’s special events calendar offers a variety of programming that illuminate and celebrate Louisiana’s unique culture and history.
Located within the historic Brulatour courtyard at 520 Royal Street, The Café at The Collection offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Visit for coffee, pastries, salads, wraps, and more. The Cafe is currently open Wednesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
THNOC offers a variety of guided tours. All exhibitions are self-guided, and THNOC's free French Quarter Tours app offers themed walking tours that allow users to explore various aspects of French Quarter architecture and history.
As part of our mission to preserve New Orleans’s history and culture, THNOC has restored several significant structures on Royal Street and Chartres Street that exemplify a variety of architectural styles.
Our founders, General L. Kemper and Leila Williams, lived on the site that now comprises The Historic New Orleans Collection. The couple restored the 1889 Italianate brick townhouse and resided there from 1946 to 1963. Tours of this property have been temporarily suspended.
In the Williams Research Center, patrons have access to more than 30,000 library items, more than two miles of documents and manuscripts, a microfilm collection, and more than 500,000 photographs, prints, drawings, and paintings, as well as three-dimensional objects. Admission to the Williams Research Center is free. Appointments are required and should be scheduled in advance. Email reference@hnoc.org or call (504) 523-4662 ext. 2001 to schedule a visit. Appointments will be taken following a short consultation with a reference staff member to ensure that on-site research is the best option.