Historic New Orleans Collection

A free history museum and research center devoted to the people, places, and traditions of New Orleans and the Gulf South.

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Hours & Location

Museum: 520 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA
Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

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Holiday Hours

Admission

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Stop by the front desk or reserve tickets online. Ticket covers admission to all exhibitions and certain daily programs.

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Museum: (504) 523-4662
Williams Research Center: (504) 598-7171
Mailing address: 533 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130

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Current Exhibitions

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Colonial Wars & Conflicts

American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition

March 20, 2026 to January 17, 2027

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Poster for Chihuahua: King Of New Orleans Dogs, 1981, by Bunny Matthews.

Visual Art & Artists

Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions

September 18, 2026 to May 9, 2027

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Music & Musicians

New Orleans Musicians in Art: Selections from the Permanent Collection

November 4, 2025 to May 16, 2027

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Free Black man wearing a turban (detail), 1835, oil painting by Julien Hudson.

Visual Art & Artists

Two Portraits by Julien Hudson

Ongoing

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Illustration of a brown pelican perched on a branch with green leaves in the background. The bird has a long beak and distinctive brown, white, and yellow plumage. The botanical details add a naturalistic setting.

Land Loss & Climate Change

A Vanishing Bounty: Louisiana’s Coastal Environment and Culture

Ongoing

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French Quarter street scene showing at 710 Toulouse Street, and corner of shuttered building at 714 Toulouse, with a man walking along the street in the darkness, his shadow falling upon the wall. Shows cat beside colonnette supporting balcony, a street light, double doorway of the gateway, laundry hanging on second floor of 710 Toulouse, and ironwork balcony of 714 Toulouse. Shows partial view of balcony and building at corner of Toulouse and Royal Streets.

French Quarter Life

French Quarter Life: People and Places in the Vieux Carré

Ongoing

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Antique map of a city grid with detailed plots, streets, and buildings. It includes a compass rose and features ships sailing on the river at the bottom. The layout is intricate, showcasing a geometrically organized urban plan.

French Quarter Life

French Quarter Galleries

Ongoing

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Tours & Daily Programs

Get more out of your museum visit with a guided tour, Shortcut Talk, or daily program.

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A guide gestures towards a historical photograph on the wall while speaking to a man and a woman in a gallery setting. The wall has an exhibit description titled A Most Dreadful Visitation: Frederick Douglass and The 1887 Riot.

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Museum Admission is Always Free 

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Latest News

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HNOC CEO and President Daniel Hammer greets Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain outside the Williams Research Center.

HNOC Hosts Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain for America&Spain250 Symposium

Presented September 24–26, the symposium offered an engaging exploration of Spanish Louisiana’s strategic, social, and cultural role during the American Revolution.

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Bunny Matthews, photographed at his home/studio in Abita Springs in 1990.

Gambit Weekly Spotlights Upcoming Bunny Matthews Book and Exhibition

The article and podcast episode preview HNOC’s exhibition and book, “Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions,” launching September 18.

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HNOC Curatorial Cataloger Emily Perkins speaks on WWL-TV New Orleans.

WWL-TV Previews Bunny Matthews Exhibition Opening September 18

Curatorial Cataloger Emily Perkins discusses how “Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions” will bring the New Orleans artist’s work to life.

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A black and white photo of authors Michael Tisserand and Allison Fensterstock sitting at a table talking to Jude Matthews. A copy of the book "Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions" is on the table.

September Issue of ANTIGRAVITY Magazine Explores Life of Bunny Matthews

Authors Michael Tisserand and Alison Fensterstock, joined by son Jude Matthews, discuss the complicated subject of “Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions.”

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Authors Michael Tisserand and Allison Fensterstock sit at a table signing copies of their book "Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions."

Mark Your Calendar for These Upcoming Bunny Matthews Book Events

Join us for New Orleans-area events and book signings celebrating the release of HNOC’s publication “Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions.”

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Upcoming Events

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October 5 to October 19, 2026

HNOC Travel

HNOC Travel 2026

Vietnam and Cambodia

Join us for an unforgettable journey to Southeast Asia’s mainland as we explore the incredibly rich cultural heritage of Vietnam and Cambodia.

HNOC Travel

Saturday

October 10, 2026

11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Symposium, Lecture, Film

Remaking Revolution: History in Popular Culture

In this mini symposium, explore how film, music, video games, and media continually reshape our modern understanding of revolutionary ideas.

Symposium, Lecture, Film

Colored copperplate engraved view of the burning of Cap Français on August 23, 1791, during the Haitian Revolution. Buildings are burning in the background beyond a body of water filled with ships. In the foreground soldiers run towards a village, a few have already fallen.

Wednesday

October 14, 2026

6–8 p.m.

Film, Panel Discussion

Preserving the Party: The Legacy of Halloween New Orleans

HNOC and LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana host a retrospective celebration of Halloween New Orleans and Project Lazarus with renowned gallery owner Arthur Roger.

Film, Panel Discussion

A scene from Halloween New Orleans (unknown year). A dancer in a red sequined outfit is hoisted in the air by two performers. Sparks are shooting out of two decorative pillars on either side of the dancer in front of a faux Greek-style building.

Saturday

October 17, 2026

10 a.m.–12 p.m.

For Educators, Workshop

Educator Workshop: “American Revolution”

Educators are invited to a free workshop to learn about how to deepen their students’ understanding of the American Revolution in Louisiana.

For Educators, Workshop

A museum visitor explores "American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition" at the Historic New Orleans Collection

Friday

October 23, 2026

5–7 p.m.

Live Music, French Quarter Fridays

Courtyard Sessions

Performing the Devil’s Music: Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band

Break out your devil horns and don your dancing shoes for Courtyard Sessions, featuring Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band.

Live Music, French Quarter Fridays

Image of a fantastic creature with bat wings, a fly-like face, and pointed devil tail flying over a stylized skyline of New Orleans. Visible are the Superdome, St. Louis Cathedral, skyscrapers, the Mississippi River and bridges, and vessels on the river.

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Research & Collections

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410 Chartres Street

Visit the Williams Research Center

Explore centuries of Gulf South culture with unparalleled access to rare documents, art, and historic treasures. Stop in or browse our online catalog.

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Online Catalog

A historic brick building with tall, arched windows and ornate stone details. The facade features a central sign with engraved text. Large doors and lantern-style lights flank the entrance. The structure is framed by neighboring buildings.

Collection Highlights

Explore historic artifacts from HNOC’s vault.

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Collection highlights

Touro Infirmary Archives

A vast collection spanning the history of the oldest continuously operating hospital in New Orleans.

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A group of posed nurses in a sepia-tone photograph.

Patent of nobility awarded to Bernardo de Gálvez by Carlos III of Spain, 1783.

Signature Collections

Bernardo de Gálvez Patent of Nobility

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Juvenile and Polo Silk, between 1992 and 1999.

Recent Acquisitions

Polo Silk Photographs

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A man in a suit and bowtie is playing a drum set with a focused expression. The background is plain and the image is in black and white.

Artist Archives

John E. Kuhlman Collection

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Illustration of a woman in a red and black costume with a heart motif. She stands in front of a large red heart background, holding a ribboned staff and wearing a pointed hat. The style is vintage and theatrical.

Rare Books & Periodicals

Blue Books

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A pamphlet for Poodle's Patio advertises a dancer named Galatea, featuring a photograph of her standing like a statue followed by the text "The Statue that Comes to Life".

Recent Acquisitions

Poodle’s Patio Pamphlet

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Staff Picks

The Mysterious Axman’s Jazz

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The cover of the newspaper "Hospital Banner" from August of 1955.

Rare Books & Periodicals

Hospital Banner Newsletters

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Vintage advertisement for Dr. G. H. Tichenors Antiseptic Refrigerant, featuring a soldier with an American flag. Lists uses such as for wounds, burns, and cramps. Produced by Dr. G. H. Tichenor Antiseptic Co. in New Orleans, USA.

Staff Picks

Dr. Tichenor’s Bottle Label

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First Draft

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Stories from the Historic New Orleans Collection

First Draft

Huey Long, Tiger King

For years, the notorious Louisianan politician was also the unofficial football coach and bandleader of LSU.

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The purple sheet music cover for two LSU songs, featuring portraits of Huey Long and Castro Carazo, an illustrated LSU flag, and an image of the state capitol building in Baton Rouge.

FIRST DRAFT NEWSLETTER

New Orleans Stories,
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Publishing

Explore our popular books and quarterly magazine.

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Preorder Now

Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions

The bold personality of New Orleans’s legendary cartoonist and writer springs from the page in this first monograph of his work by Alison Fensterstock and Michael Tisserand.

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Book cover for "Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions."

History For Everyone

Dive into HNOC’s content, collections, and upcoming community events.

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Events

2026 Chess Club Meeting

September 12, 2026, 1–3 p.m.

Join HNOC’s free, all-ages Chess Club to learn more about the game and help plan future gatherings and events.

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Children are playing chess at a table covered with a blue cloth in a busy room. One child looks thoughtful while contemplating a move. Adults and other children are engaged in activities at surrounding tables.

Events

Fall 2026 Educator Open House

September 19, 2026, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

New Orleans-area educators are invited to learn about HNOC resources available to them and their students.

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Educators participate in an Educator Open House event at HNOC. Teachers sit at desks in a classrom while listening to a faciliator.

Shop & Relax

Visit

The Shop

Our award-winning museum shop offers gifts by local artists, HNOC books, merchandise inspired by objects from our holdings, and much more.

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Exterior view of the courtyard cafe at the Historic New Orleans Collection.

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The Café

Relax and recharge while enjoying a coffee or pastry in our historic and picturesque Brulatour Courtyard.

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Donate & Support

Become a member and support our mission.

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Become a Member

The Historic New Orleans Collection is for everyone! Get the most out of your visit to HNOC with great year-round perks, and find the membership level right for you.

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