New Orleans African American Museum
New Orleans African American Museum
New Orleans African American Museum
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Neighbourhood: Tremé
That sound? That flavor? That certain je ne sais quoi that lets you known you’re in “Nawlins” and nowhere else? It’s all good and in broad abundance on the streets of Tremé, where so much of what’s considered to be the very best of New Orleans culture and tradition is, put simply, just how people go about their daily lives in this historic part of town. As one of America’s oldest African-American neighborhoods and among the nation’s first established residential areas for free people of color, Tremé’s significant heritage and contribution cannot be understated. This is especially the case when considering some of Tremé’s most famous residents, most notably jazz great Louis Armstrong. For full flavored food, funky and jazzed up music, and vibrant street life presented with homegrown pride, you can’t beat a visit to Tremé.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.0
15 reviews
Excellent
4
Very good
4
Average
0
Poor
3
Terrible
4
Garrett S
Durham, North Carolina, United States147 contributions
Mar 2023
Unfortunately, the main building is undergoing renovations, so we visited the scaled-down version across the street in the Treme district. Still, it was a cool experience. There was an exhibit on early 20th-century photographers and Dutch Moriel, the first black mayor of New Orleans. It is $20 each so a little pricey but worth it to get a true experience of the culture in the city.
Written March 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
miguelbcn010
Barcelona, Spain152 contributions
Sept 2022 • Solo
The main building is being renovated and what is left is just not worthy of being called a museum. There is so little information available that sadly at this point it is not really worth the trouble.
Hopefully after the main building is renovated there will be much more to celebrate a very integral part of New Orleans and it's people.
Hopefully after the main building is renovated there will be much more to celebrate a very integral part of New Orleans and it's people.
Written October 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jelfrank57
New York, New York17 contributions
Aug 2011 • Couples
...than what they had. The collection of artifacts is quite small and many have no supporting documentation. There's mostly art work, so this is more of a gallery than a museum.
The neighborhood is interesting. If this museum takes you in to walk around the neighborhood than perhaps it's worth it.
Nonetheless, the price of admission is way too high. Sorry.
The neighborhood is interesting. If this museum takes you in to walk around the neighborhood than perhaps it's worth it.
Nonetheless, the price of admission is way too high. Sorry.
Written August 9, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SingletonFamily
New Jersey, USA149 contributions
Aug 2011 • Solo
I always find it interesting how people tend to view museums...like a hit and run accident. Most will run into the museum, make sure that they have a photos taken of them with a famous works of art, and read the title, and then leave. This is not the museum for that. It's a really small place, mostly run by volunteers, and to pay $7 should be an honor to any visitor. You will never, ever visit a museum that provides such a rich history of the African American experience in New Orleans. I was there last summer and there were three fabulous exhibits. One was slave owners and how they thought the slaves had a disease if they didn't want to accept the life of a slave. The second exhibit was about the black Mardi Gras Indians. The third exhibit was about the bridge near the museum that once was a really green park like area with tremendous oak trees. It was destroyed when a bridge was constructed to bypass the Treme area for visitors to go straight downtown into the French quarter. The bridge destroyed a community. It was really fascinating to drive to the bridge after we left the museum to see that street artists had painted murals of famous African Americans on the pillars of the bridge but had also painted oak trees there as well. The staff was extremely helpful and even allowed my husband who is blind to touch the Mardi Gras Indian costume. This museum is about the history of a black community, not about taking a photo next to a work of art. If taking photos are the type of experience you crave, I recommend that you go to the New Orleans Museum of Art, another wonderful museum. This little museum of African American history is one of my favorites...and I've been to a lot of different museums in the world!
Written June 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry H
New Orleans, LA2 contributions
Feb 2013 • Solo
New Orleans has a rich and unique African American cultural heritage. This place is an embarrassment to the city of New Orleans. Considering that the city gave them $3 million in 2011, what did they do with it?
Written March 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,498 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
The thing about critical reviews of hotels, restaurants and other attractions is you never know whom to believe. For example, one review of the New Orleans African American Museum stated that it was an "embarrassment" and a "disappointment." But another review described the museum as a "hidden gem" with "a beautiful artwork display" and urged visitors to "check it out." See for yourself. The New Orleans African American Museum, located at 1418 Governor Nicholls Street in the historic Treme neighborhood, the oldest surviving black community in the United States. It seeks to educate and preserve, interpret and promote the contributions that people of African descent have made to the artistic, cultural and historical development of New Orleans, as slaves and of free people of color throughout the history of American slavery as well as during emancipation, Reconstruction and contemporary times. That covers a lot and the NOAAM, as it is known, does an excellent job of covering it all. The property encompasses seven historical structures located on the site of a former plantation.The main large building, built of brick in 1828-1829, is the Meilleur-Goldthwaite House, the finest remaining Creole or master's house in the city. Permanent and temporary exhibits spotlight contemporary artists in the main house and in the former slave quarters. One of the museum's centerpieces is the "Louisiana-Congo: the Bertrand Donation," a collection of African beadwork, costumes, masks, textiles and musical instruments. The 70-piece assortment of original African artwork is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It illuminates the parallels between everyday life in the Congo and Louisiana folk culture.
Written February 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Devon Urquhart
Anchorage, AK21 contributions
Jun 2012 • Couples
This museum was conveniently located by our hotel, and I'm happy that we had the opportunity to visit! The price was very reasonable, and the exhibits were insightful. I will say that a majority of the artifcacts/exhibit were old books, and that families with young children may not gravitate toward this museum, because each exhibit must include a lot of reading to be truly appreciated.
Things that should be known, that weren't shared with us, is that this the location of this museum is truly special-- I googled, and it's located in the heart of the oldest Black neighborhood in America! So much culture and festivities took place there-- staff really missed an opportunity to share the neighborhood's rich history with visitors. Also, there is a beautiful artwork display in an adjascent building, but like another reviewer noted, it is not clearly marked and may go unappreciated.
Don't miss out on the photo opportunity to take your picture on the beautiful bench in front of the outdoor mural- this makes for a beautiful photo op. I enjoyed being able to visit this museum-- if there is any free time, check it out! We were visiting during a VERY hot and humid month, so being able to take advantage of this beautiful venue and air conditioning was great.
Things that should be known, that weren't shared with us, is that this the location of this museum is truly special-- I googled, and it's located in the heart of the oldest Black neighborhood in America! So much culture and festivities took place there-- staff really missed an opportunity to share the neighborhood's rich history with visitors. Also, there is a beautiful artwork display in an adjascent building, but like another reviewer noted, it is not clearly marked and may go unappreciated.
Don't miss out on the photo opportunity to take your picture on the beautiful bench in front of the outdoor mural- this makes for a beautiful photo op. I enjoyed being able to visit this museum-- if there is any free time, check it out! We were visiting during a VERY hot and humid month, so being able to take advantage of this beautiful venue and air conditioning was great.
Written July 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
airlink9972
Memphis, TN1,830 contributions
Jun 2013 • Solo
I was really looking forward to visiting the New Orleans African American Museum which is located in the Treme area. However upon arriving, found out from banner on the front fence close until fall 2013.
The Museum and several of the homes behind it are in the renovation process and are not open. The banner stated that a pop up gallery is now set up at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation lobby.
From the drawings on the banner, a major expansion on covering many views of the rich African American history will be displayed. But have to wait.
The Museum and several of the homes behind it are in the renovation process and are not open. The banner stated that a pop up gallery is now set up at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation lobby.
From the drawings on the banner, a major expansion on covering many views of the rich African American history will be displayed. But have to wait.
Written July 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheVeganPhoenix
Springfield, MA6 contributions
Wanted to love this museum, I didn't. Very sparse, lacked depth & artifacts. The exhibits were comprised of a few books, documents & furniture spread Btwn 4 rms. There was a 2nd building that were the old slave quarters, some genius decided it should be used as the employee break room so it was not open to tour. There was a third building with artwork. The volunteer neglected to advise us that one of the exhibit buildings was closed, due to the late hour of the day. She also misled us when she advised we could complete the tour in "35-45" minutes. Hate to say it, not worth the $7 when there are so many other things to do in NOLA.
Written June 10, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
subha1988
New York City, NY31 contributions
Nov 2021
The museum is undergoing a major renovation but one building still carried an excellent Afrofuturism exhibit, as well as works from the Prospect 5 city-wide exhibition. The museum is located in the historic neighborhood of Treme, one of the United States' last remaining historic African American neighborhoods.
Written November 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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