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An older man with a mustache and glasses stands in a cluttered workshop. He wears a tape measure around his neck and a t-shirt. Shelves behind him hold various tools and supplies.
First Draft

For the Perfect Fit, They Went to the Jive Ass Shoemaker

Calvin Dayes was renowned for his specialty shoes fit for a king, as well as for those who needed them most.

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A historical black-and-white photo shows a group of men in bowler hats and suits, actively engaged in constructing or managing wooden beams on a busy dock. The scene conveys early 20th-century industrial activity.
First Draft

The Summer When Rats Brought the Black Death to New Orleans

The tale of a Swedish sailor and a disease long thought to be confined to the other side of the Atlantic.

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A barge carrying a large rocket booster sails along a wide canal, bordered by grassy banks. In the background, there is a large industrial structure with cranes, under a partly cloudy sky.
First Draft

How the Gulf Coast Boosted the First Men to the Moon

America’s journey to the moon passed through Louisiana and Mississippi.

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A vintage illustration of ships navigating stormy seas. A large sailing ship with billowing sails is prominent, surrounded by other vessels and smoky skies, conveying a sense of maritime adventure and turbulent weather.
First Draft

The Self-Educated Engineer Who Helped Tame the Mississippi River

James Buchanan Eads risked his career and even his life to exploit the river’s potential.

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A black conductors hat with a glossy visor and metallic band. It features a round badge with RAPID TRANSIT and BIG FOUR on the front, along with the number 1015 on a rectangular plaque below. The background is a neutral gray.
Collection highlights

Streetcar Operator’s Cap

A cap from the Marie Finhold Streetcar Collection anchors an in-gallery display of streetcar memorabilia and artifacts.

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A lively parade featuring people in matching white suits and green accessories, holding decorated umbrellas. They are marching joyfully down a street lined with onlookers on a sunny day. Some in the group are playing musical instruments.
First Draft

The Distinctly New Orleans Story of the Seersucker, and Why It’s Not Quite True

The puckered fabric has been a staple of southern summer fashion for generations, but how did the iconic material come to be?

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A vintage illustration of a European street scene, featuring a row of two-story buildings with balconies. People are walking and interacting on the sidewalk. The architecture shows ornate windows and doors, creating a classic, historical atmosphere.
First Draft

When Paul Morphy Brought Chess Mania to New Orleans

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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.
Exhibitions

Crescent City Sport: Stories of Courage and Change

November 22, 2019 to March 8, 2020

Objects on loan and from HNOC’s holdings tell tales of sporting life and civic communion in New Orleans.

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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.
Exhibitions

French Quarter Galleries

Ongoing

Explore how the French Quarter went from swampy colonial outpost to the oldest neighborhood in America’s most distinctive city.

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