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Message
TulaneLSU's Top 10 museums of New Orleans
Posted on 1/27/20 at 10:26 pm
Posted on 1/27/20 at 10:26 pm
Dear Friends,
During Christmas offseason, if you’re going to find me, look for me either in church, working on my still broken Ford 350 tour van, practicing my glass harp in the French Quarter, are on the streetcar, because we all know, as Grandfather used to say, “Death rides the highway, but you are safe in the trolley car.”
I also enjoy spending time in museums. And what a city in which to live is New Orleans if you enjoy museums. Per capita, I would venture to say New Orleans has one of the highest museum concentrations in the country outside D.C. There are so many great museums, and until you leave, you may not realize how good we have it.
Like most New Orleanians, the first museum I visited was the Children’s Museum in the Warehouse District. Was there anything better at age six than the freedom of grocery shopping in the mini-Schwegmann’s? My personal favorite was the oil rig and shipping section in the back.
I was invited in my teen years to a homecoming or prom dance there. She was a year ahead of me at Ursuline’s and had quite the infatuation with me. She was a member of Holy Name of Jesus, and decidedly ironically, a muckspout. I attended her dance for fifteen minutes after which the vulgarity was too much. I told her, “I cannot tolerate your language,” and left, never to hear from her again. I hailed a streetcar. I sat immediately behind the conductor and explained to her why I was alone and in a dashing bespoke suit. She did not seem interested. Back in my room, I listened to Mozart to clean away the muck until I fell asleep.
The new Children’s Museum recently opened in City Park, but I have not yet been. It may deserve a spot on this list. I will attempt to visit it in the coming weeks, if I can gather enough money for entrance fees.
It’s a good thing the list is only ten, because after the tenth, the quality really plummets. I considered the Presbytere, but it’s just cheap now. The Back O Town Museum is popular among tourists who think they’ve discovered a hidden gem, but it’s poorly lit, and does not have that much history. I wish the Southern Food and Beverage Museum were better, but it is what it is. The Pharmacy Museums is just too small for inclusion, and the Voodoo Museum is an abomination. The Contemporary Arts Center isn’t much to write home about either, but it’s interesting for about 15 minutes. But I said I’d list ten, so here are TulaneLSU’s Top 10 museums of New Orleans:
10. Mardi Gras World
I remember it best when it was across the River. It was one of the few places across the River I felt comfortable visiting because it was such an easy journey on the Algiers Ferry. Several field trips had MGW as their destination, and I appreciated that the tours ended with a slice of king cake. I have only visited the new MGW three times, and it’s nice. But I miss the dirty warehouses of the old location.
9. Jazz Museum in the Mint
As you know, I do not enjoy jazz. I do enjoy New Orleans history, and jazz is an integral part of it. I have been a few times to this museum. Every Satchmo Festival I’ve attended I’ve spent at least an hour walking through the museum. Its best piece is the cornet on which Armstrong learned to play. I bet the Armstrong House Museum in Brooklyn, which is a fine museum, would do almost anything to get that piece.
8. Confederate Civil War Museum
It’s not the politically correct museum du jour, but it’s one of the finest in the city and it’s one of the finest collections of Confederate artifacts in the world. Its building is beautiful: the stone structure and the beautiful wood interior.
7. Laura Plantation
I know it’s a good 40 minutes upriver, but it is without question the best of all the local plantations in terms of history. If you are only able to visit one plantation in the area, this is the one to see.
6. Ogden Museum of Southern Art
One of the top collections of Southern (American) artists in the world. Quite a few John McCrady pieces, and those in his school, are present. I became fascinated with McCrady’s art during a celebration of the Eucharist at the now shuttered Grace Episcopal Church on Canal Street. It injures me each time I pass that former church knowing that it will be redeveloped into living spaces. While I am glad the property should no longer be neglected, what a tragedy for a community every time a house of worship is decommissioned. Anyway, there are two enormous McCrady pieces in the sanctuary that I believe the real estate developers got in the deal. Had I known these pieces were included, I would have bid on the building. If anyone would like to put me in contact with the owners now, so that I could save these marvelous murals, let me know.
During Christmas offseason, if you’re going to find me, look for me either in church, working on my still broken Ford 350 tour van, practicing my glass harp in the French Quarter, are on the streetcar, because we all know, as Grandfather used to say, “Death rides the highway, but you are safe in the trolley car.”
I also enjoy spending time in museums. And what a city in which to live is New Orleans if you enjoy museums. Per capita, I would venture to say New Orleans has one of the highest museum concentrations in the country outside D.C. There are so many great museums, and until you leave, you may not realize how good we have it.
Like most New Orleanians, the first museum I visited was the Children’s Museum in the Warehouse District. Was there anything better at age six than the freedom of grocery shopping in the mini-Schwegmann’s? My personal favorite was the oil rig and shipping section in the back.
I was invited in my teen years to a homecoming or prom dance there. She was a year ahead of me at Ursuline’s and had quite the infatuation with me. She was a member of Holy Name of Jesus, and decidedly ironically, a muckspout. I attended her dance for fifteen minutes after which the vulgarity was too much. I told her, “I cannot tolerate your language,” and left, never to hear from her again. I hailed a streetcar. I sat immediately behind the conductor and explained to her why I was alone and in a dashing bespoke suit. She did not seem interested. Back in my room, I listened to Mozart to clean away the muck until I fell asleep.
The new Children’s Museum recently opened in City Park, but I have not yet been. It may deserve a spot on this list. I will attempt to visit it in the coming weeks, if I can gather enough money for entrance fees.
It’s a good thing the list is only ten, because after the tenth, the quality really plummets. I considered the Presbytere, but it’s just cheap now. The Back O Town Museum is popular among tourists who think they’ve discovered a hidden gem, but it’s poorly lit, and does not have that much history. I wish the Southern Food and Beverage Museum were better, but it is what it is. The Pharmacy Museums is just too small for inclusion, and the Voodoo Museum is an abomination. The Contemporary Arts Center isn’t much to write home about either, but it’s interesting for about 15 minutes. But I said I’d list ten, so here are TulaneLSU’s Top 10 museums of New Orleans:
10. Mardi Gras World
I remember it best when it was across the River. It was one of the few places across the River I felt comfortable visiting because it was such an easy journey on the Algiers Ferry. Several field trips had MGW as their destination, and I appreciated that the tours ended with a slice of king cake. I have only visited the new MGW three times, and it’s nice. But I miss the dirty warehouses of the old location.
9. Jazz Museum in the Mint
As you know, I do not enjoy jazz. I do enjoy New Orleans history, and jazz is an integral part of it. I have been a few times to this museum. Every Satchmo Festival I’ve attended I’ve spent at least an hour walking through the museum. Its best piece is the cornet on which Armstrong learned to play. I bet the Armstrong House Museum in Brooklyn, which is a fine museum, would do almost anything to get that piece.
8. Confederate Civil War Museum
It’s not the politically correct museum du jour, but it’s one of the finest in the city and it’s one of the finest collections of Confederate artifacts in the world. Its building is beautiful: the stone structure and the beautiful wood interior.
7. Laura Plantation
I know it’s a good 40 minutes upriver, but it is without question the best of all the local plantations in terms of history. If you are only able to visit one plantation in the area, this is the one to see.
6. Ogden Museum of Southern Art
One of the top collections of Southern (American) artists in the world. Quite a few John McCrady pieces, and those in his school, are present. I became fascinated with McCrady’s art during a celebration of the Eucharist at the now shuttered Grace Episcopal Church on Canal Street. It injures me each time I pass that former church knowing that it will be redeveloped into living spaces. While I am glad the property should no longer be neglected, what a tragedy for a community every time a house of worship is decommissioned. Anyway, there are two enormous McCrady pieces in the sanctuary that I believe the real estate developers got in the deal. Had I known these pieces were included, I would have bid on the building. If anyone would like to put me in contact with the owners now, so that I could save these marvelous murals, let me know.
This post was edited on 1/27/20 at 10:28 pm
11
Posted on 1/27/20 at 10:26 pm to TulaneLSU
5. World War II Museum
A lot of people are going to assume this should be the unanimous top museum in the city. It has a subject matter contemporaries love, thanks in part to a plethora of WW2 books and movies in the last two decades. The dying of that generation aides in its popularity. It has received numerous national accolades as well. For me, though, war isn’t that interesting. Yes, it was important, but I think in a few centuries, iWWII will largely be a forgotten period in history, just as the Seven Years War is an afterthought today. I’ve seen so many documentaries about WWII, I cannot say I’ve learned anything from this museum. Nonetheless, it’s a great museum, and worth a visit once. The next four museums, however, are worth a lot more than one visit.
4. Ursuline Convent Museum
One of the least appreciated and rarely visited museums in New Orleans. It has the best or second best collection of colonial New Orleans history pieces and the building itself is one of the most marvelous buildings in the city. Don’t sleep on this, if you truly love New Orleans history.
3. The Cabildo
As a child, one of my favorite activities when Mother would take me to the Jackson Square la Madeleine, either for sustenance or bread baking classes, was to pass the Cabildo and see the Civil War era submarine in the arcade. I was fascinated by that hunk of rusting metal. Having seen The Hunt for Red October and other submarine movies, it amazed me that a submarine could be that small and that they existed over a century ago. The submarine is now indoors, and it’s just one of a few stellar exhibits in an immaculately restored building.
2. New Orleans Museum of Art
Atlanta and Houston’s museums have bigger collections now, but I’d argue that NOMA is better than both. Located in America’s greatest public park, and now with two of the nation’s top outdoor sculpture gardens, NOMA has an incredible diversity in its collection.
1. The Historic New Orleans Collection
The renovation and extension of THNOC last April provides the French Quarter and city with a new world class museum. No city in America has a more interesting history than New Orleans, and now, the public has free access to that history through THNOC on Royal St. I recently spent eight hours going through both of its buildings, taking in its art, maps, smell-exhibits, furniture, colonial papers, and a theater
The museum has marvelous special collections. The current rotation includes the sports history collection. I didn’t think I would enjoy this special exhibit, which will only be there for a few more weeks, but I did. I’m including a few pictures from it, since most posters here seem to enjoy sports. I was annoyed, almost to anger, that the author of this collection included the Rollergirls in the professional sports section. These people are not professional athletes nor is what they've done historic. Talk about slanted vision. The kickball leagues of New Orleans have better athletes and more history than Rollergirls. Please, THNOC, remove that part of the exhibit.
Friends, thank you for reading, if you did read. I’d love to see your top ten or favorite museum. The city is oft criticized, but such people ignore so much the city offers. I hope you appreciate these cultural offerings.
Faith, Hope, and Love,
TulaneLSU
P.S. Free buttocksnclarse
A lot of people are going to assume this should be the unanimous top museum in the city. It has a subject matter contemporaries love, thanks in part to a plethora of WW2 books and movies in the last two decades. The dying of that generation aides in its popularity. It has received numerous national accolades as well. For me, though, war isn’t that interesting. Yes, it was important, but I think in a few centuries, iWWII will largely be a forgotten period in history, just as the Seven Years War is an afterthought today. I’ve seen so many documentaries about WWII, I cannot say I’ve learned anything from this museum. Nonetheless, it’s a great museum, and worth a visit once. The next four museums, however, are worth a lot more than one visit.
4. Ursuline Convent Museum
One of the least appreciated and rarely visited museums in New Orleans. It has the best or second best collection of colonial New Orleans history pieces and the building itself is one of the most marvelous buildings in the city. Don’t sleep on this, if you truly love New Orleans history.
3. The Cabildo
As a child, one of my favorite activities when Mother would take me to the Jackson Square la Madeleine, either for sustenance or bread baking classes, was to pass the Cabildo and see the Civil War era submarine in the arcade. I was fascinated by that hunk of rusting metal. Having seen The Hunt for Red October and other submarine movies, it amazed me that a submarine could be that small and that they existed over a century ago. The submarine is now indoors, and it’s just one of a few stellar exhibits in an immaculately restored building.
2. New Orleans Museum of Art
Atlanta and Houston’s museums have bigger collections now, but I’d argue that NOMA is better than both. Located in America’s greatest public park, and now with two of the nation’s top outdoor sculpture gardens, NOMA has an incredible diversity in its collection.
1. The Historic New Orleans Collection
The renovation and extension of THNOC last April provides the French Quarter and city with a new world class museum. No city in America has a more interesting history than New Orleans, and now, the public has free access to that history through THNOC on Royal St. I recently spent eight hours going through both of its buildings, taking in its art, maps, smell-exhibits, furniture, colonial papers, and a theater
The museum has marvelous special collections. The current rotation includes the sports history collection. I didn’t think I would enjoy this special exhibit, which will only be there for a few more weeks, but I did. I’m including a few pictures from it, since most posters here seem to enjoy sports. I was annoyed, almost to anger, that the author of this collection included the Rollergirls in the professional sports section. These people are not professional athletes nor is what they've done historic. Talk about slanted vision. The kickball leagues of New Orleans have better athletes and more history than Rollergirls. Please, THNOC, remove that part of the exhibit.
Friends, thank you for reading, if you did read. I’d love to see your top ten or favorite museum. The city is oft criticized, but such people ignore so much the city offers. I hope you appreciate these cultural offerings.
Faith, Hope, and Love,
TulaneLSU
P.S. Free buttocksnclarse
This post was edited on 1/28/20 at 9:20 am
Posted on 1/27/20 at 10:27 pm to TulaneLSU
Oh, Tulane! This is such a wonderfully put together list! I adore it!
Posted on 1/27/20 at 10:31 pm to TulaneLSU
quote:
The new Children’s Museum recently opened in City Park, but I have not yet been. It may deserve a spot on this list. I will attempt to visit it in the coming weeks, if I can gather enough money for entrance fees.
Not going to happen. The authorities are on to you. Best stay at least 500’ from any gathering of children.
Posted on 1/27/20 at 10:33 pm to TulaneLSU
quote:
practicing my glass harp in the French Quarter,
I hope this isn’t a reference to doing drugs.
Posted on 1/27/20 at 10:41 pm to TulaneLSU
Posted on 1/28/20 at 6:58 am to TulaneLSU
quote:
practicing my glass harp in the French Quarter
Posted on 1/28/20 at 9:09 am to TulaneLSU
quote:
The new Children’s Museum recently opened in City Park, but I have not yet been. It may deserve a spot on this list. I will attempt to visit it in the coming weeks, if I can gather enough money for entrance fees.
quote:
Anyway, there are two enormous McCrady pieces in the sanctuary that I believe the real estate developers got in the deal. Had I known these pieces were included, I would have bid on the building. If anyone would like to put me in contact with the owners now, so that I could save these marvelous murals, let me know.
Posted on 1/28/20 at 9:10 am to TulaneLSU
I got married at NOMA, so that'll always be #1 on my list.
Posted on 1/28/20 at 10:11 am to TulaneLSU
Are you fn nutz? No way is New Orleans even comparable to DC or NY wrt museums.
New Orleans has like 2 legit museums. Saint's hall of fame in Kenner and Mardi Gras world on west bank are a joke.
Who are you? You some schmuck who was laid of by the Times Picayune?
New Orleans has like 2 legit museums. Saint's hall of fame in Kenner and Mardi Gras world on west bank are a joke.
Who are you? You some schmuck who was laid of by the Times Picayune?
Posted on 1/28/20 at 10:39 am to TulaneLSU
quote:
TulameLSU
Your schtick is just a poor attempt of parroting Ignatius Riley, right?
This post was edited on 1/28/20 at 10:40 am
Posted on 1/28/20 at 10:53 am to TulaneLSU
The recently opened HNOC facility on Royal Street is the Brulatour House. It has more history than most realize, aside from being the former home of WDSU. It has one of the most famous, and most painted courtyards in the FQ.
Jules Brulatour, who lived there at one time, was an early pioneer of motion pictures, and rumor/legend has it that he was the true inspiration for Citizen Kane, not William Randolph Hearst.
You are right that the sports exhibit is excellent. They have exhibits on the development of the Superdome, the Saints, the history of Sugar Bowl / Tulane Stadium, and New Orleans' short-lived USFL team the Breakers, who had Marcus Dupree. I visited the afternoon of January 13, just before going to the National Championship game. Thanks for calling attention to this cool new museum. It definitely belongs in the conversation as a top museum in the city.
Jules Brulatour, who lived there at one time, was an early pioneer of motion pictures, and rumor/legend has it that he was the true inspiration for Citizen Kane, not William Randolph Hearst.
You are right that the sports exhibit is excellent. They have exhibits on the development of the Superdome, the Saints, the history of Sugar Bowl / Tulane Stadium, and New Orleans' short-lived USFL team the Breakers, who had Marcus Dupree. I visited the afternoon of January 13, just before going to the National Championship game. Thanks for calling attention to this cool new museum. It definitely belongs in the conversation as a top museum in the city.
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