701 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
Tuesdays–Sundays
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Last ticket sale at 3:30 p.m.
Closed on Mondays and state holidays
The Cabildo will close early at 3 p.m. on Friday, October 11, and all day Saturday, October 12 for private events. Saturday's Yoga at the Cabildo class will meet instead at the Presbytère.
504-568-6968
800-568-6968
GET TICKETS
$10 for Adults
$8 for Senior Citizens, Active Military, and Students
FREE for Children 6 and Under
Receive a 20% discount when purchasing tickets for two or more Louisiana State Museums. School groups are FREE with reservations. Groups of 15 or more with reservations receive a 20% discount. AAA Members receive a 10% discount.
The Cabildo is fully wheelchair accessible with elevator access to each floor. Services animals, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, are welcomed. Text guides are available on request in English, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese. If you have any questions about planning your visit, please contact our office at 504-568-6968 or email [email protected].
The Cabildo currently has these education resources available for students, teachers, and families:
Providing an unparalleled view of the dazzling life of Jackson Square and a fascinating backdrop of exhibitions chronicling Louisiana’s rich history and culture, the Cabildo offers a distinctive atmosphere for your special event.
For more information about renting event space at the Cabildo, please fill out this form.
To book a group visit to the Cabildo, please fill out this form. Louisiana State Museums accepts group reservations of 50 people or less at the Cabildo. Larger groups will be asked to split into smaller groups and stagger their entrance times. Groups of 15 or more with reservations receive a 20% discount.
Attention: The Cabildo will close early at 3 p.m. on Friday, October 11, and all day Saturday, October 12 for private events. Saturday's Yoga at the Cabildo class will meet instead at the Presbytère.
Your visit to New Orleans’ historic French Quarter would not be complete without a stop at Jackson Square, which is where you will find the Cabildo. This elegant Spanish colonial building neighbors St. Louis Cathedral and houses many rare artifacts of America’s history.
Using a variety of artifacts, images, and documents, the exhibition From "Dirty Shirts" to Buccaneers: The Battle of New Orleans in American Culture opens with an exploration of the battle’s history, emphasizing the diversity of its participants, and closes with an investigation of how the battle has been remembered, commemorated and represented.
Come visit the Cabildo, the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies in 1803 and one of Louisiana’s most significant historical buildings. From landmark court cases to visits from international ambassadors, many important events in Louisiana have taken place within the Cabildo. The three floors of Cabildo exhibitions cover the history of Louisiana by featuring artifacts such as documents, paintings, and 3D objects from the museum’s vast collection.
The Cabildo History
The Cabildo was built under Spanish rule between 1795 and 1799, following the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 which completely destroyed the structure that stood on the property. Designed by Gilberto Guillemard, who also designed the neighboring St. Louis Cathedral and the Presbytère, the Cabildo was the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies in 1803, which finalized the United States’ acquisition of the Louisiana Territory and doubled the size of the fledgling nation.
The Cabildo served as the center of New Orleans government until 1853 when it became the headquarters of the Louisiana State Supreme Court, where the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson decision originated in 1892. The building was transferred to the Louisiana State Museum in 1908 and has since served to educate the public about Louisiana history.
In 1988 the Cabildo was severely damaged in an inferno and, within five years, the landmark was authentically restored with 600-year-old French timber framing techniques. It was reopened to the public in 1994, featuring a comprehensive exhibit on Louisiana’s early history.
This remarkable building’s tumultuous past is reason enough to pay it a visit, but the historical treasures within make it an absolute must-see.
