To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, The Historic New Orleans Collection presents a special tour on the contributions of women to our culture, politics, and society. Available through the month of March, which is Women’s History Month, “Women in New Orleans History” tells the stories of the women who shaped everyday life in the Crescent City. Native American women who wove baskets were important in local and transcontinental trade. The Ursuline nuns, who arrived in 1727, set a high standard for literacy among women and girls of all races. Free women of color owned more property than their male counterparts and carved out a distinctive place in New Orleans society before the Civil War. White women in the mid-20th century helped renew cultural interest in the decaying French Quarter.

Based on original objects spread across two campuses, the tour delves into the female landowners, teachers, journalists, activists, artists, voters, preservationists, and citizens—both free and enslaved—who made their marks on our history. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and begin at THNOC’s 533 Royal Street Welcome Center. They continue through the Louisiana History Galleries and the French Quarter Galleries. Admission is free, but a ticket is required. Get your ticket online, or walk in on the day you would like to take the tour.