751 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
GET DIRECTIONS
Tuesdays–Sundays
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Last ticket sale at 3:30 p.m.
Closed on Mondays and state holidays
504-568-6968
800-568-6968
Get Tickets
$7 for Adults
$6 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 Presbytère is fully wheelchair accessible with elevator access to each floor. Services animals, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, are welcomed. If you have any questions about planning your visit, please contact our office at 504-568-6968 or email [email protected].
The Presbytère currently has these education resources available to students, teachers, and families:
Providing a magnificent view of the dazzling life of Jackson Square and a fascinating backdrop of exhibitions chronicling Louisiana’s rich history and culture, the Presbytère offers a celebratory atmosphere for your special event.
For more information about renting event space at the Presbytère, please fill out this form.
To book a group visit to the Presbytère, please fill out this form. Louisiana State Museums accepts group reservations of 50 people or less at the Presbytère. 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.
The Presbytère’s two permanent exhibits tell two sides of the ongoing Louisiana story—one of celebration and one of resilience.
Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana offers a window into the annual celebration and riotous rituals of Mardi Gras, a festival that is inextricably woven into Louisiana’s way of life and whose roots extend deep into the Middle Ages. There are parade floats to climb, costumes to see, and historical throws on display as well as rare glimpses into the secretive social club society from which modern-day Mardi Gras krewes evolved. And it’s not a party without music: Mardi Gras albums, records, sheet music and more are also part of the collection.
The Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond exhibit tells of rescue, rebuilding, and renewal. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans’ badly engineered levee system, it resulted in one of the worst disasters in American history, leaving 80 percent of the city flooded and hundreds dead.
The exhibit documents the event, the aftermath, and southeast Louisiana’s ongoing recovery. With interactive exhibits and artifacts that showcase the spirit of the city’s residents, this is a collection you don’t want to miss.
The Presbytère History
The Presbytère 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 Presbytère, originally called Casa Curial or “Ecclesiastical House,” was built on the site of the residence, or presbytère, 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.
