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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.

Want to hear the latest in luxury home entertainment circa 1920? Join us for a short program exploring the history of our beautifully restored Aeolian residential player pipe organ. Listen to a musical demonstration and learn about the significance of this rare musical instrument.

A person holds a long scroll in front of a seated group in a warmly lit room with wooden floors. A sign titled Centuries of History is in the background. The attendees are watching attentively.
A staff member shows guests an example of an organ roll, the perforated paper used to play the organ. Photo by Amber Johnson, HNOC

In the early 20th century, having a player organ in the home was a luxury reserved for the most opulent residences, allowing the owner to have access to recorded music before radios and phonographs were commonplace. Tobacco magnate William Ratcliffe Irby remodeled the property at 520 Royal Street—now part of HNOC’s Seignouret-Brulatour Building—to serve as his personal residence starting in 1918. In the process he installed a player organ in the entry room to his lavish third-floor apartment.

Close-up of hands repairing or assembling a complex mechanical device with gears, levers, and small metal components. People are wearing gloves and using tools. The device appears intricate and machine-like.
A technician works on the interior of the organ console during its restoration. Photo by Keely Merritt, HNOC

The instrument, built by the Aeolian Company of New York, is one of only a handful that has survived to this day in its original location and in working condition, after a meticulous restoration by the Holtkamp Organ Company.

Organ Demonstrations

Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.
520 Royal Street, Seignouret-Brulatour Building, 3rd Floor
Free admission, no RSVP required

Events

Aeolian Organ Demonstrations

Tuesday–Sunday
11–11:30 a.m. and 3–3:30 p.m.

Experience surround sound like a Roaring Twenties bigwig with HNOC’s fully restored, self-playing pipe organ.
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A vintage pipe organ with ornate wooden carvings surrounding tall, golden pipes. The intricate woodwork includes decorative floral patterns and columns, all set against a warm, neutral background.

Plan Your Visit

Hours & Location Hours & Location

520 Royal Street
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 includes admission to all exhibitions and regular daily programs.

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Contact Us Contact Us

Museum: (504) 523-4662 
Email: tours@hnoc.org

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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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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.
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