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A two-story yellow building with arched windows and black shutters stands on a busy street. People walk by, with some stopping to look at the storefront displays. A black wrought-iron balcony decorates the facade above.
520 Royal Street

Seignouret-Brulatour Building and Tricentennial Wing

Three-story townhouse, built 1816; purpose-built museum wing, completed 2019

Across from HNOC’s flagship location is our newest museum facility, anchored by the historic Seignouret-Brulatour Building, a three-story townhouse built in 1816. Behind it sits the Brulatour Courtyard, one of the most illustrated outdoor spaces in the French Quarter. At the rear is the Tricentennial Wing, a new structure built by HNOC in 2019 to house galleries.

Timeline

1816: French-born furniture maker and wine importer François Seignouret builds the three-story entresol townhouse. His “S” monogram is visible in the garde-de-frise (decorative barrier) on the third-story wrought-iron balcony. Other early features, which survive today, include a second-level cast-iron balcony, two service wings in the rear, and granite columns and lintels (door and window supports).

A vintage black and white photo of a courtyard with stairs leading to a second floor. Clothes hang on a line above, and there is a bench, a barrel, a potted plant, and an open door on the ground level. The walls and windows appear worn.

1870: Pierre Brulatour, another wine importer, purchases the house, though his ownership is brief. The property changes hands several more times through the late 19th century.

520 Royal Street courtyard, ca. 1900, photo by Morgan Whitney. Courtesy of Southeastern Architectural Archive, Tulane University Libraries

1918: The building is bought by tobacco businessman and philanthropist William Ratcliffe Irby. In his third-floor residence, Irby installs a luxurious ballroom and an Aeolian player organ. Today the organ is one of only a handful in the country that remain in their original locations.

Illustration of a courtyard at 520 Royal St., New Orleans. It features a staircase, plant pots, and an arched door. The text mentions the old Brulatour Mansion, now remodeled as The Arts & Crafts Club.

1922–33: Irby allows the Arts and Crafts Club of New Orleans to operate on the premises; they set up a classroom and gallery. The Brulatour Courtyard becomes a favorite subject for artists of the club, and impressions of the courtyard grace picture postcards sold in tourist shops.

Arts and Crafts Club block-print postcard, ca. 1925, by Louis Andrews Fischer. HNOC, gift of Boyd Cruise, 1958.85.145

1950–96: WDSU-TV broadcasts from the site, making it the first television station in Louisiana. With an impressive slate of original programming, WDSU incubates talents including Dick Van Dyke and several beloved local personalities, such as the mad-scientist character Morgus the Magnificent and children’s-show host Mrs. Muffin.

A vintage black and white photo of an industrial interior, featuring a large, high-ceilinged room with scattered equipment and a group of people working. There are scaffolds and a control booth in the background, indicating an engineering or research setting.
WDSU studio, 1950s, photo by Charles F. Weber.  HNOC, 2012.0208.1.8
A woman and a man are underwater, looking at each other. The man is holding a microphone with WDSU printed on it. Both appear to be smiling.
2,000-gallon pool used for underwater telecasts at WDSU, 1950s, photo by Charles F. Weber. HNOC, 2012.0208.1.22

2006: HNOC acquires the property.

2013: HNOC begins conducting archaeological and architectural investigations on the site. Archaeologists with Earth Search Inc. uncover a well hidden beneath courtyard pavers, as well as various 19th-century artifacts, including ceramics, bottles, and metal utensils. Architects with Wagonner and Ball oversee exploratory demolition work.

An older man wearing a white hard hat works on a construction project inside a rustic building. He is standing at a wooden workbench using a power tool. The space has exposed brick walls and a staircase in the background. Tools are scattered on the bench.

2016: As conservation work on the Seignouret-Brulatour Building continues, new construction begins at the rear of the property to build the Tricentennial Wing.

A craftsman works on the historic staircase in the Seignouret-Brulatour Building, 2017. Photo by Keely Merritt, HNOC

2019: The new facility at 520 Royal Street opens to the public.

A spacious courtyard with peach-colored walls and a glass entrance. It features round tables and chairs, some occupied by people. An upper balcony stretches around the courtyard. Sunny weather and clear blue sky enhance the welcoming atmosphere.

NOW ON VIEW AT 520 ROYAL

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Colonial Wars & Conflicts

American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition

March 20, 2026 to January 17, 2027
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Black and white photo of people in line for voting registration outside a building. Two men are seated near a Voting Applications sign, and several individuals are standing in line, some wearing hats and summer clothing.
The Civil Rights Movement

The Trail They Blazed

June 6, 2025 to June 7, 2026
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A group of people sits at a diner counter. A woman drinks from a soda bottle, while another eats a burger. A man is smoking a cigarette. The counter is filled with plates and glasses, and the background shows shelves with various items.
The Civil Rights Movement

The Trail They Blazed (Traveling)

January 6 to April 19, 2026
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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.
French Quarter Life

French Quarter Galleries

Ongoing
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Hours & Location Hours & Location

Museum: 520 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA
Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

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Holiday Hours

Admission Admission

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Stop by the front desk or reserve tickets online. Ticket covers admission to all exhibitions and certain daily programs.

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Contact Us Contact Us

Museum: (504) 523-4662 
Williams Research Center: (504) 598-7171
Mailing address: 533 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130

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Museum Highlights

Four people sit on a low wall in a dark room with a vibrant art projection in the background. The projection features a large building surrounded by colorful, abstract designs. The people are casually dressed and appear engaged with the display.

French Quarter by Night

Music, revelry, and timeless tales come alive in this immersive experience in the French Quarter Galleries.

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A vibrant courtyard with people walking and sitting at tables under umbrellas. The area is surrounded by tall buildings with large windows, and potted plants add greenery to the scene. Posters are displayed, and the atmosphere is lively and social.

Brulatour Courtyard

One of the most illustrated courtyards in the world, this French Quarter landmark has captured the creative spirit of New Orleans for decades.

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A group of people, including a young child and two adults, are gathered around an interactive touchscreen table displaying a digital city map. The adults are touching the screen, while the child looks on with curiosity.

French Quarter at Your Fingertips

Travel around the French Quarter in seconds with this giant interactive map, stocked with information and images about every block of the Vieux Carré.

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A portrait of a woman wearing a light-colored headwrap, an ornate earring, and a ruffled collar against a dark background. Her expression is calm and composed. The style suggests a historical or classical painting.

Portrait of a Free Woman of Color

This rare 1837 oil painting has a history that, until recently, remained a secret. Visit the French Quarter Galleries to hear her story.

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Two people stand in a room near a large, ornate pipe organ with wooden details and vertical pipes. The room has warm-colored walls and wooden flooring. One person is wearing a jacket, while the other is in a patterned shirt.

Aeolian Organ

Experience surround sound like a Roaring Twenties bigwig with HNOC’s fully restored, self-playing pipe organ.

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Our Buildings

HNOC’s Architectural Treasures

Every building has stories to tell. Learn more about HNOC’s historic French Quarter properties.

Explore Explore
Illustration of a two-story building with green balconies and multiple doors and windows. The facade is adorned with potted plants and small trees. The sky is clear, creating a serene atmosphere.

Research Tools

A detailed historical map of San Franciscos downtown, circa 1906. The buildings are color-coded: red for those damaged in the earthquake and yellow for those destroyed by fire. Streets are clearly marked, with a coastal line at the bottom.

Further Reading

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