Louisiana State Museum

The Louisiana State Museum is a state history museum in the French Quarter of New Orleans that spans seven historic buildings. The exhibitions cover regional culture, music history, and state development with a focus on local traditions and their distinctive characteristics.

The museum was established in 1906 and uses the Cabildo building, which served as the seat of Spanish colonial government and witnessed the Louisiana Purchase transaction. These structures connect directly to fundamental events in Louisiana's past.

The museum displays the evolution of jazz through instruments and photographs, as well as Mardi Gras traditions with historical costumes and masks. These collections allow visitors to experience the local music culture and regional celebration customs firsthand.

With a single ticket, visitors can enter multiple museum buildings and book guided tours in English from Tuesday through Sunday. It helps to allow enough time to visit several buildings, since the exhibitions spread across the entire neighborhood.

The museum preserves the world's largest collection of Mardi Gras artifacts, including elaborate costumes and masks from several centuries. These objects allow visitors to trace the development of one of America's most famous celebration traditions.