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Learn & Explore

We believe that history is for everyone. Find resources for learners of all ages, from podcasts and videos to lesson plans and family activities.

Learn & Explore

Students & Families

Explore activities and programs for kids of all ages.

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A view of two visitors exploring "The Trail They Blazed" exhibition at HNOC.
Two young children sit opposite of one another engaged in a game of Chess.

Chess Club

Explore HNOC’s all-ages club for chess lovers.

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A group of people sits around a wooden table examining large black-and-white photos. The setting appears to be a library or study room with large windows and an American flag in the background. The floor has a patterned carpet.

Student Writing Contest

Learn about HNOC’s annual student writing contest and read winning submissions from previous years.

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A Derven Scholar intern works at a desk at the Historic New Orleans Collection.

Derven Scholars

Paid internships for college students interested in museum education

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For Educators

Learn more about field trips, lesson plans, workshops, and other opportunities for K–12 educators.

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A teacher guides two students who are writing on clipboards in a museum. They are examining an exhibit with photographs and text on the wall. The group is focused and engaged in the educational activity.
A woman points at an installation at HNOC's "The Trail They Blazed" exhibition. Children are gathered around her.

Field Trips

Learn about how to schedule a free, staff-curated visit to HNOC for K-12 students.

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A group of people view an exhibit in a gallery featuring a large historical illustration and several framed documents. A guide discusses the display, which includes a quote about shame and humiliation in a prison setting.

Lesson Plans

Explore lesson plans, primary sources, and activities for specific subjects and grade levels.

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A group of people stand around a table covered with various artworks and objects in a gallery. One person points at a framed item while others observe closely. They wear name tags and seem engaged in a discussion. Paintings hang on the walls behind them.

Teacher Advisory Council

Join HNOC’s annual cohort of educators and help shape initiatives that go beyond the museum to reach thousands of students.

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A group of children and a woman gather on the steps outside a brick building. The children are playing and smiling, with some sitting while others stand. One girl is holding a jump rope. The scene conveys a sense of community and camaraderie.

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First Draft

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Stories from the Historic New Orleans Collection

First Draft

How My Parents Built on the Foundation of the Civil Rights Movement

When ICE raids came to cities across America, young people took notice. One winning author of HNOC’s 2026 Student Writing Contest described her community’s experience with the modern-day civil rights movement.

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A press photograph depicting a woman walking her son to school during the third week of school integration in New Orleans, Louisiana. A group of uniformed police officers stand together on the sidewalk in the distance.
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Watch & Listen

Enjoy videos, podcasts, archival footage, oral histories, and more from HNOC.

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Three men operate vintage television cameras and equipment in a studio. Two men stand behind large film cameras on tripods, while the third adjusts a boom microphone. They wear headphones and classic 1950s attire.
Three boys in casual clothing sit on a large tree branch, smiling and looking at the camera. The background shows a brick building and more children playing in the open area. The image is in black and white.

TriPod

A podcast finds new angles on 300 years of New Orleans history, coproduced by HNOC and New Orleans Public Radio, WWNO 89.9 FM.

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Three people sit inside a diner. From left to right: a man in a white shirt and cap, a man in a dark jacket and hat, and an elderly woman in a dress with a cane. They are seated around a small table with chairs. The setting is cozy and vintage.

Oral History

HNOC’s oral history program preserves diverse personal narratives, fostering a richer collective memory through interviews and vignettes. 

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A black and white photo shows three children sitting on a tiled floor, watching a wooden console TV. One child holds a baby in their lap, while another sits nearby. The room is modestly furnished, with light coming through a window on the left.

HNOC on YouTube

Our YouTube channel is a rich resource for archival footage, recordings of past programs, and much more. Check out highlights from the channel below and be sure to subscribe!

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A man and a child interact with a digital display featuring historical jazz images and information. A large black-and-white mural of a jazz band is visible in the background.
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Community Projects & Resources

Explore resources developed in partnership with community organizations, including heirloom conservation guides, local histories, and annual events.

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A group of children and a teacher gather around a table, looking at a photo album. The classroom setting is colorful, with educational posters on the walls. The children appear engaged and curious.

Caring for Your Collection

Explore in-person and online workshops with museum professionals to help you preserve your family heirlooms, research your genealogy, and more.

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Genealogy Resources

Our experts at the Williams Research Center are available to help you dive into your family history.

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Dancing in the Streets: Social Aid & Pleasure Club Narratives

Told in the voices of the interviewees themselves, new narratives shed light on the lineages of parading organizations and the neighborhood traditions and practices of second-line parades.

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NOLA Resistance

Explore our oral history project featuring testimony from individuals who were active in the fight for racial equality in New Orleans between 1954 and 1976.

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Research & Collections

Online Catalog

Search or browse through HNOC’s vast collections of manuscripts, artifacts, books, artwork, and more in our online catalog.

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A painting of a woman with a red headscarf and bare shoulders against a dark background. She is wearing a white garment and seated with one hand resting on her knee, looking directly at the viewer.
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