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The Historic New Orleans Collection
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Three people examine historical artifacts and documents displayed in a glass case at a museum. Behind them is a painting of a cityscape, and one person wears a leather jacket with a red scarf.

Past Exhibitions

A black-and-white photo of a man and woman standing in traditional attire in front of a shrine with religious images and candles. A vintage television sits nearby. The floor has a patterned design.
Immigrant Cultures

Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans

April 4 to October 5, 2025
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Historical illustration of a street scene with enslaved individuals working, a man on horseback, and people walking or observing. Wooden buildings and trees are in the background.
Mass Incarceration

Captive State: Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration

July 19, 2024 to February 16, 2025
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Drew Brees hoists the Lombardi Trophy above his head at a parade celebrating the Saints' 2010 NFL championship win.
Sports & Recreation

Championship Memories

February 7 to February 10, 2025
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A dimly lit art gallery displays abstract sculptures resembling tree trunks and human figures. In the background, large paintings depict a colorful forest scene. The floor reflects the vibrant colors from the artwork.
Visual Art & Artists

Prospect.6: Gesture to Home by Didier William

November 2, 2024 to February 2, 2025
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Portrait of a woman wearing a red headscarf and a white off-the-shoulder blouse. She gazes toward the viewer, seated against a dark green background, with her hands gently resting on her lap.
Visual Art & Artists

Unknown Sitters

April 5 to October 6, 2024
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A black-and-white image of a busy street parade. Crowds line the sidewalks, and a large archway with a horse statue on top spans the street. Marching bands and numerous people walk in the parade. Buildings with flags and banners flank the scene.
Local Traditions & Customs

A Mystic Brotherhood: Fraternal Orders of New Orleans

December 8, 2023 to May 10, 2024
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A black and white photo of a large group of people marching in a protest. They hold signs demanding voting rights, jobs, and an end to segregation. The expressions are determined as they walk together in solidarity.
New Orleans Government & Politics

American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith

June 17 to October 8, 2023
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Historical depiction of Notre Dame Cathedral with a bustling crowd in front. The Gothic architecture features tall towers and detailed stonework, set against a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Historic Buildings

Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition

November 15, 2022 to March 19, 2023
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Intricate heraldic coat of arms featuring a shield with various symbols including animals, a tree, and a boat. Surrounded by banners, flags, and a crown on top. Decorative elements like drums, horns, and a star are at the base.
New Orleans as a Spanish Colony

Spanish New Orleans and the Caribbean: La Nueva Orleans y el Caribe españoles

October 20, 2022 to January 22, 2023
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A gallery features wooden geometric sculptures resembling simplified houses and a church, arranged in a circle on a wooden floor. Large windows line one side, and informational text and colorful notes are visible in the background.
Historic Buildings

Robert Tannen’s “Jackson Square”

May 27 to August 28, 2022
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Decorative artwork with a central circle reading Making Mardi Gras, surrounded by various colorful petal-like sections, each featuring different textures, patterns, and objects, symbolizing festive elements of the Mardi Gras celebration.
Mardi Gras

Making Mardi Gras

May 27 to August 7, 2022
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A black and white image of a woman kneeling beside a shirtless man at the foot of a spiral staircase. She is tending to him with both hands on his head, as he kneels on the ground with his head lowered. The scene evokes a dramatic atmosphere.
Tennessee Williams

Backstage at “A Streetcar Named Desire”

March 18 to July 3, 2022
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Ornate invitation for a grand ball, featuring two figures in royal attire, decorative gold scrollwork, and the text detailing a Mardi Gras event at The Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, dated 1992.
Mardi Gras

Fit for a King: The Rex Archives at HNOC

January 6 to June 11, 2022
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A black and white photo of a narrow canal stretching through a grassy field with trees on either side. The sky is partly cloudy, creating a serene and symmetrical landscape scene.
Visual Art & Artists

Prospect.5: Yesterday We Said Tomorrow

October 23, 2021 to January 23, 2022
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A vintage map section showing parts of New Orleans and nearby areas, including Lake Ouatcha and Lake Washa. Features include Fort St. Leon, Woodville, and Jackson with labeled roads and waterways like Bayou Barataria and Bayou Rigolettes.
New Orleans as a Port City

Cartographic Legacies: Historical Maps at the Williams Research Center

September 28 to December 11, 2021
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A landscape painting divided into three vertical sections, each representing a different season. The left side shows bare trees, the middle has lush greenery, and the right depicts golden autumn foliage, merging into a serene, unified scene.
Visual Art & Artists

John Clemmer: A Legacy in Art

July 22 to November 7, 2021
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An ornate ceramic vase with scalloped edges, featuring floral designs in red, pink, and blue. The vase has intricate golden handles and detailing, set against a muted blue background.
Material Culture

Pieces of History: Ten Years of Decorative Arts Fieldwork

April 16 to September 5, 2021
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A modern exhibition space with white walls showcases art and photographs. Suspended green installations and lily pad designs decorate the ceiling and floor. White seating is arranged around the room, with a wooden door visible in the background.
Local Traditions & Customs

Land of Dreams

September 8, 2020 to March 7, 2021
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A diverse crowd of people gathered outdoors in front of a large, two-story building with a wraparound porch. Some individuals wear hats and sunglasses. An umbrella is held above one persons head. Bunting hangs from the porch.
Creole Identity

Cajun Document: Acadiana, 1973–74

September 8, 2020 to January 8, 2021
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Five colorful duck figurines are arranged on and around two black rectangular blocks against a neutral background.
Visual Art & Artists

Duck Decoys: The Anne and Dick Stephens Collection of Wildfowl Artifacts

January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2021
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A black and white image shows a person wading in shallow water in the foreground. In the background, several large cargo ships are anchored under a cloudy sky, creating a stark contrast between the serene water and industrial ships.
Industry & Natural Resources

Enigmatic Stream: Industrial Landscapes of the Lower Mississippi River

September 17, 2019 to April 5, 2020
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A silver trophy cup with ornate handles and floral engravings. The inscription reads: Benz & Gass, along with Lespies N.O. Grand Winter Sports Assn. The trophy has a decorative base and an elegant, antique appearance.
Sports & Recreation

Crescent City Sport: Stories of Courage and Change

November 22, 2019 to March 8, 2020
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A detailed pencil sketch of Colonial Williamsburgs Governors Palace. The central building features a clock tower and cupolas, with symmetrical wings on each side. A fence runs along the front, and trees frame the scene.
Architects & Builders

The New Orleans Drawings of Gaston de Pontalba, 1848–1851

October 29, 2019 to February 2, 2020
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A sepia-toned photograph of a rock island with sparse trees and foliage on top, surrounded by calm water. The island features a solitary, tall tree with branches extending outward. The image has a vintage, textured appearance.
Photography & Photographers

Seeking an Open Life: Photographs of Lafcadio Hearn’s Japan

October 10, 2019 to January 4, 2020
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A surreal illustration of skyscrapers against a twilight sky, framed by a geometric, multi-colored border creating a 3D effect. The buildings are highly detailed, emphasizing the contrast between the urban landscape and the intricate patterns.
Visual Art & Artists

Art of the City: Postmodern to Post-Katrina

April 6 to October 6, 2019
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A vintage black-and-white photo of the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band. The group, including men and women, is gathered outdoors with musical instruments. A sign reads Music Furnished by the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band.
Music & Musicians

New Orleans Medley: Sounds of the City

January 19 to August 4, 2019
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A surreal illustration depicts a floating cityscape above a chaotic, colorful scene filled with diverse figures, animals, and objects. Below, people engage in various activities, and birds fly in a clear sky. The bottom contains fragmented text.
Visual Art & Artists

New Orleans: Between Heaven and Hell

May 9 to December 31, 2018
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A historical illustration depicts a man in formal 19th-century attire standing beside an ornate table. The man has a mustache and wears a long coat. The background includes a draped curtain and part of a wall map.
Africans in the Colonial Period

African Heritage of New Orleans: 300 Years in the Making

June 1 to December 8, 2018
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A vintage map illustration of the Gulf of Mexico, depicting historical ships sailing in the water. The land features small settlements, mountainous terrain, and decorative figures, showcasing an artistic interpretation of the geography.
New Orleans as a French Colony

New Orleans, the Founding Era

February 27 to May 27, 2018
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A miniature model of a yellow two-story building with green shutters and balconies. It features arched windows and a gray roof. Small figures of people are positioned near the entrance, simulating a street scene.
Behind the Scenes at HNOC

The Seignouret-Brulatour House: A New Chapter

June 14, 2016 to May 6, 2018
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A vintage map from 1849 depicting the inundated district near Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. The map shows geographical features, water bodies, and labeled areas with a title and scale at the bottom.
Visual Art & Artists

Prospect.4: The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp

November 18, 2017 to February 25, 2018
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A vintage postcard shows a birds-eye view of New Orleans, Louisiana. The cityscape is filled with historic buildings, streets, and rooftops, capturing the architecture and feel of the early 20th century.
Vice & Alternative Economies

Storyville: Madams and Music

April 5 to December 9, 2017
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A bustling outdoor art market scene, featuring people in early 20th-century attire viewing and purchasing paintings displayed on a fence. A large palm tree provides shade, and various art styles are visible.
Visual Art & Artists

A Most Significant Gift: The Laura Simon Nelson Collection

May 2 to November 4, 2017
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A vintage illustration of a 19th-century pharmacy interior. The room is filled with shelves of bottles. Several people, including pharmacists and customers, are engaged in transactions and conversations. The ceiling is ornately decorated.
Shopping & Retail

Goods of Every Description: Shopping in New Orleans, 1825–1925

September 23, 2016 to April 9, 2017
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An elderly person stands among towering bookshelves filled with books, wearing a white shirt. The scene suggests a library or a personal collection. They look content, surrounded by a variety of books.
Photography & Photographers

Clarence John Laughlin and His Contemporaries: A Picture and a Thousand Words

November 15, 2016 to March 25, 2017
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A vintage portrait of a woman wearing an ornate hat with large floral decorations. She has a fluffy scarf around her neck and is dressed in period attire, gazing directly at the camera. The photograph is enclosed in an oval frame.
Women's Rights

Voices of Progress: Twenty Women Who Changed New Orleans

March 13 to September 11, 2016
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An illustration depicting fairy-like characters lounging and interacting in a vibrant, flower-filled garden with a tree and colorful blossoms. The scene is whimsical and dreamlike, suggesting a fantastical setting.
Literature, Poetry, & Writers

“Merry as the Day Is Long”: Shakespeare’s Hand in New Orleans

May 3 to August 7, 2016
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A vintage photograph shows a large military tank on a city street with onlookers, including children and adults in early 20th-century attire. Buildings with signs are visible in the background.
World War I

At Home and at War: New Orleans, 1914–1919

December 9, 2015 to May 7, 2016
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