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Louisiana (LA)
New Orleans
Places to visit in New Orleans
The Presbytere
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The Presbytere

See all things to do
See all things to do
The Presbytere
4.5
#30 of 465 things to do in New Orleans
Speciality MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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About
The Presbytere was designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo, alongside St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. It stands today as a beautiful reminder of both Louisiana's singular past and its vibrant present.The Presbytere, originally called Casa Curial or "Ecclesiastical House," was built on the site of the residence, or presbytere, of the Capuchin monks. The building was used for commercial purposes until 1834 when it became a courthouse. In 1911, it became part of the Louisiana State Museum. Two exhibitions are on display-"Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond" tells of rescue, rebuilding and renewal, and "Mardi Gras: It's Carnival Time in Louisiana" captures the fun and fantasy of the annual celebration.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: French Quarter
A small and teeming network of laissez-faire living lounged out on the balmy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the French Quarter has long been a port of call for folks in search of a good time and a great story. Perpetually inebriated Bourbon Street runs across its midriff like a strand of cheap ribbon tied around an otherwise rather pretty and impressively well-kept vintage dress. Throughout the rest of the Quarter, brightly colored Victorian homes and businesses, famously done up with wrought-iron features, provide a distinct and immediately recognizable backdrop for all varieties of fun. At any given moment in this historic riverside setting, some of America’s finest meals are being cooked, most potent cocktails are being mixed, and most engaging music is being performed.
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Best nearby
Restaurants
1,315 within 5 kms
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0.2 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • American • Cajun & Creole • Seafood
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0.4 km₹ • Quick Bites • International • European
Doris Metropolitan
805
0.1 km₹₹₹₹ • American • Steakhouse • Gluten Free Options
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3,124
0.2 km₹ • Speciality Food Market • Italian • Deli
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Attractions
460 within 10 kms
Satchmo SummerFest
14
8.6 mCultural Events
St. Louis Cathedral
8,408
11 mArchitectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals
Jackson Square
16,379
99 mPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
French Quarter
22,810
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
1850 House Museum and Store
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81 mSpeciality Museums
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75 mSpeciality Museums
M.S. Rau
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See what travellers are saying
  • Rachel
    Gold Coast, Australia437 contributions
    Good for a short visit
    Hurricane Katrina exhibit on the ground floor was pretty disappointing. I found it almost impossible to read the information provided as the lettering was the wrong colour. They seemed to focus so much on the flood levy and not about the people. I think I was just expecting more from this exhibit. The Mardi Gras exhibit on the top floor was pretty good. Lots of costumes but not the floats. For the price I think it’s worth a visit and the staff were lovely.
    Visited January 2023
    Written 18 January 2023
  • gold-vintner
    Indianapolis, Indiana1,240 contributions
    Would return
    Thinking that this is part of the Louisiana State Museum system. Like most museums, the "displays" change. When we were there they had a wonderful display of Mardi Gras history with many of the artifacts that dated before 1900. Entrance fee for 2 senior citizens was $12.00 !!!!! Reason for a 4 rating versus 5 is the lack of friendliness (disposition) of the staff.
    Visited February 2023
    Written 24 February 2023
  • ReadRideRepeat
    Saint Paul, Minnesota9 contributions
    The Katrina exhibit is a must see.
    The first floor is dedicated to what happened during Katrina. Very powerful and eye opening. Explains how the people survived the storm only to be let down by the systems that were were supposed to help them. Stories of local heroes and the resilience of the people.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 June 2023
  • Rhonda Whiten
    Pace, Florida58 contributions
    Hurricane Katrina and Mardi Gras museum
    Small museum with 2 main themes, Hurricane Katrina and Mardi Gras. The bottom floor is all about Hurricane Katrina. Such a sad time for the people of NOLA. The top floor is dedicated to Mardi Gras costumes, jewels, and masks.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 September 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
991 reviews
Excellent
568
Very good
329
Average
73
Poor
15
Terrible
6
amoskus
21 contributions
How did Katrina cause so much damage?
Oct 2023 • Family
Fascinating architecture across from Jackson Square. Footage and diagrams show why Katrina was so deadly. Tickets reduced if paired with the nearby Presbytere.
Written 9 November 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.
Lorali Reynolds
Portland, OR21 contributions
Costumes extraordinaire
Oct 2023 • Couples
Amazing tour of Hurricane Katrina devastation and the costumes and culture of Marci Gras including jewelry and headgear
Written 17 October 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.
Rhonda Whiten
Pace, FL58 contributions
Hurricane Katrina and Mardi Gras museum
Sep 2023 • Couples
Small museum with 2 main themes, Hurricane Katrina and Mardi Gras. The bottom floor is all about Hurricane Katrina. Such a sad time for the people of NOLA. The top floor is dedicated to Mardi Gras costumes, jewels, and masks.
Written 26 September 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.
Joel S
Boston, MA35 contributions
Exhibits here are a mixed bag
Jul 2023 • Couples
Two main themes -- hurricanes and Mardi Gras. About half of the hurricanes exhibit was quite fascinating and well done. The other half was partially broken and felt very dated -- it really needs to be redone or changed. Likewise, the Mardi Gras exhibit was a mixed bag -- it kind of rambled all over the place, with way too much text in places. Overall, worth stopping by if you're in the neighborhood, but don't expect it to be amazing.
Written 24 July 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.
ReadRideRepeat
Saint Paul, MN9 contributions
The Katrina exhibit is a must see.
Jun 2023 • Couples
The first floor is dedicated to what happened during Katrina. Very powerful and eye opening. Explains how the people survived the storm only to be let down by the systems that were were supposed to help them. Stories of local heroes and the resilience of the people.
Written 11 June 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.
thetravelorganizer
Tega Cay, SC602 contributions
The Katrina exhibit is powerful but has seen better days
Apr 2023
This building, which is part of the Louisiana State Museum family, is a mirror image of the Cabildo on the other side of St. Louis Cathedral. It houses 2 permanent exhibits: “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana,” which describes the story of the floats, the krewes, the colored beads, and the costumes associated with this celebration of organized chaos, and “Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond,” which tells the sad story of the catastrophe which left 80% of New Orleans under water and hundreds dead.
Written 27 May 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.
Mearcats
Letchworth Garden City, UK249 contributions
The Presbytere - Hurricane Katrina exhibit was so moving.
May 2023 • Couples
The museum was so informative. It has two floors with the ground purely dedicated to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. It was so well documented and moving and heartbreaking to witness personal stories of survival. It took my husband and I around 2 hours just to go round the Hurricane Katrina exhibit. Upstairs is all about Mardi Gras which was interesting but for me the ground floor was so very sad. The admission was $7 and was very reasonable for the time spent inside.
Written 25 May 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.
bre126
Naas, Ireland118 contributions
Presbytere Katrina
Mar 2023 • Friends
Only visited the Hurricane Katrina exhibition. Very impressive... the human story .... the problems caused by administration .... the courage and sensitivity of the front liners...
The wave of help from outside ..
Never imagined the scale of the disaster
Written 18 March 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.
gold-vintner
Indianapolis, IN1,240 contributions
Would return
Feb 2023
Thinking that this is part of the Louisiana State Museum system. Like most museums, the "displays" change.

When we were there they had a wonderful display of Mardi Gras history with many of the artifacts that dated before 1900.

Entrance fee for 2 senior citizens was $12.00 !!!!!

Reason for a 4 rating versus 5 is the lack of friendliness (disposition) of the staff.
Written 24 February 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.
Rachel
Gold Coast, Australia437 contributions
Good for a short visit
Jan 2023
Hurricane Katrina exhibit on the ground floor was pretty disappointing. I found it almost impossible to read the information provided as the lettering was the wrong colour. They seemed to focus so much on the flood levy and not about the people. I think I was just expecting more from this exhibit.

The Mardi Gras exhibit on the top floor was pretty good. Lots of costumes but not the floats.

For the price I think it’s worth a visit and the staff were lovely.
Written 18 January 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.
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The Presbytere (New Orleans) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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