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The Historic New Orleans Collection
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1975 130 web
A painting featuring an eye within a radiant sun above two classical columns. In the center are a square and compass with sprouting plants. A trowel and a beehive are on either side, on a tiled floor.

Tall Orders

Masonic art and influence are all around us, but Freemasonry’s outsized mystique can make it difficult to separate fact from fiction. HNOC explains the real history of a world hidden in plain sight.

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A historic, multi-story Gothic Revival building with pointed arches and ornate detailing. The corner structure features towers and large windows. A horse-drawn cart is parked on the cobblestone street nearby.

Masonic and Odd Fellows Buildings in New Orleans

Society halls and temples have had a lasting impact on the local architectural landscape. Here’s where to find them.

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A sculpture of a woman in a blue dress and tiara holding a green frog on a plate. The setting appears to be an indoor exhibition space with wooden railings and shield-shaped decor on the walls.

Treasures for Tiana

Disney Imagineers visited HNOC to research a new attraction based on The Princess and the Frog, set to open summer 2024.

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A black and white photograph of ocean waves crashing onto the shore, with a visible tear or fault line running vertically through the image. The shoreline is grassy, and the water appears rough with white foamy waves.

Julia Brown’s Curse and the Storm That Swamped Ruddock

A Category 4 hurricane drowned the town in 1915, but legend has it there was hoodoo at work.

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A black and white photo shows a group of people, including men, women, and children, sitting closely together on a bus. The individuals are smiling and appear to be sharing a joyful moment during their journey.

Coming to New Orleans, Part V

Two disasters, the fall of Saigon and Hurricane Katrina, spurred the two largest waves of immigrants to New Orleans in recent history. 

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A detailed black and white illustration depicting a scene in a Roman amphitheater. Onlookers, including officials and soldiers, observe from a raised platform as a gladiatorial battle unfolds below. The crowd is packed, with banners and statues visible.

Thinking About the Roman Empire in Novus Orleanus

South Louisiana is full of references to the Roman Empire.

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Three people are at a table with stacks of flyers and documents. Two are seated, looking at the camera, while one stands, writing. The scene appears to be a registration or sign-up event in an outdoor setting.

Beauty and the Ballot

Whickam was a beautician, community leader, and national civil rights organizer who helped thousands of Black Americans access their right to vote.

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A vintage TACA International Airlines brochure featuring an illustration of a plane flying over a map, a woman in traditional attire, and a beach hotel. Text highlights flights to Mexico, Panama, Central America, and New Orleans.

Coming to New Orleans, Part IV

Thanks to the rise of the United Fruit Company and the city’s Catholic roots, New Orleans saw an increase in Hispanic residents during the first half of the 20th century.

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A sepia-toned photograph depicting a group of men in formal attire and top hats, standing in a line. They seem to be at a formal event, with American flags displayed prominently. A large ship and industrial buildings are visible in the background.

A Parade of Presidents

HNOC’s holdings shed light on moments when New Orleans welcomed America’s Commander-in-Chief.

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