Black-and-white photograph of women in elegant early 1900s gowns gathered in a parlor known as “Emma Burt’s Mirror Ball Room” in Storyville, New Orleans, around 1902–1903. One woman dances while others sit and watch, surrounded by ornate mirrors, stained glass, and a piano in the background. The scene captures the social atmosphere of New Orleans’s Storyville era.

Emma Burton’s ‘Mirror Ball Room,’ Storyville, New Orleans, 1902–1903. New Orleans Jazz Museum Collection.

The District: Music and Musicians in Storyville

Thu, November 13, 2025 - Thu, February 12, 2026

The New Orleans Jazz Museum and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser announce the upcoming opening of its newest exhibition, The District: Music and Musicians in Storyville, a dynamic exploration of the music, people, and places that helped shape the early sound of jazz. The new exhibit will open at the New Orleans Jazz Museum on Thursday, November 13, 2025.

“There’s no place in the world like New Orleans, and no music like jazz,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “This exhibition celebrates the people and places that gave birth to a sound now recognized around the world. Storyville’s music, its energy, and its spirit helped shape who we are as a state – creative, resilient, and full of soul. Through this exhibit, visitors can experience how Louisiana’s unique culture continues to inspire and move people everywhere. Storyville’s legacy reminds us why Louisiana continues to inspire and influence music around the globe.”

Through rare photographs, artifacts, oral histories, and video, The District delves into the intertwined worlds of Storyville and its neighboring community, Black Storyville. While the popular belief that jazz was born in Storyville is largely a myth, there is no question that the district played an essential role in the genre’s evolution. Music filled the cabarets, saloons, and brothels of Storyville – and echoed through the streets of Black Storyville, the smaller vice district located uptown of Canal Street.

The exhibition highlights legendary figures such as Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Tony Jackson, Kid Ory, and Fess Manetta, all of whom performed in the district and left vivid recollections of its musical life. Visitors will also encounter historic photographs of the music clubs and performance spaces where these early jazz pioneers played.

Among the centerpiece artifacts are the long-awaited carriage stone and stained-glass window from Lulu White’s famed Mahogany Hall – on view for the first time in years. The exhibition also features a new video installation recreating the dances that brought this vibrant, new music to life.

“Storyville remains one of the most fascinating chapters in New Orleans’ musical story,” said Greg Lambousy, New Orleans Jazz Museum Director. “With this exhibition, we aim to bring that world to life. This year’s Improvisations Gala, Storyville: Sounds of the Rising Sun, honors the music and spirit that still resonates through New Orleans today. Together, these events highlight the enduring influence of Storyville on the city’s cultural identity and the evolution of jazz.”

The Jazz Museum is honored to collaborate with the Storyville Museum, which has graciously loaned several significant artifacts, including the mantelpiece from Hilma Burt’s house, adding further depth and authenticity to this evocative exhibition.