The Cabildo, the Presbytère and the Old U.S. Mint: A Louisiana State Museum Day

Visitors photograph Jackson Square from every angle — St. Louis Cathedral, the Pontalba buildings, the statue of Andrew Jackson — but many never step inside the two historic buildings on either side of the cathedral. The Cabildo and the Presbytère are both part of the Louisiana State Museum, and so is the Old U.S. Mint a few blocks away at the foot of Esplanade Avenue, now home to the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Together they tell the story of Louisiana from colonial rule to Carnival to jazz, and all three fit into a single day. Here's how to plan it.

The Cabildo: Where Louisiana Changed Hands

The Cabildo stands to the left of St. Louis Cathedral as you face it from the square. It was built in the late 1700s as the seat of the Spanish colonial government, and it's named for the governing council — the cabildo — that met there. In 1803 it was the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies, when the territory passed from France to the United States. Later it served as City Hall and as home to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

A serious fire damaged the building in 1988, and it reopened after restoration in 1994. Today its galleries cover Louisiana history through permanent and rotating exhibitions; the museum lists a Battle of New Orleans exhibit among them, which pairs well with a visit to the battlefield downriver in Chalmette. Exhibitions rotate, so check the Louisiana State Museum's website for what's on during your visit.

The Presbytère: Carnival and Hurricanes

On the other side of the cathedral stands the Presbytère, designed to match the Cabildo. Despite its name, it was never actually used as a residence for clergy; for much of its history it served as a courthouse. Today it's best known for two major exhibitions:

• Mardi Gras: It's Carnival Time in Louisiana — floats, costumes, historic throws and the music of Carnival, covering both New Orleans and celebrations across the state. For visitors who aren't in town during Mardi Gras, it's the best way to understand the season.
• Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond — the story of Hurricane Katrina and the levee failures, the rescue and the rebuilding, told through artifacts and personal accounts.

The Presbytère recently closed for building upgrades and reopened with the Mardi Gras exhibition in place. Check the museum's site for which galleries are open when you plan to visit.

The Old U.S. Mint and the New Orleans Jazz Museum

The Old U.S. Mint sits at 400 Esplanade Avenue, where the French Quarter meets the Marigny, close to the French Market. It opened in the 1830s as a branch of the United States Mint and struck coins for decades. During the Civil War it briefly produced coins for the Confederacy, giving it a rare place in American coinage history. Today it houses the New Orleans Jazz Museum, part of the Louisiana State Museum system.

The jazz exhibits trace the music from its roots in the city's neighborhoods to the musicians who carried it around the world, and the building also holds exhibits on its history as a mint. Upstairs, a performance space hosts concerts, talks and festival events throughout the year, including Satchmo SummerFest each summer. If you love music, check the museum's events calendar before you go — catching a live set in the building where so much of the music's history is told is a highlight.

How to Order the Day

The three buildings are close together, but it still pays to plan the route. A comfortable sequence:

1. Morning: the Cabildo. Start with history, while you're fresh, and before the afternoon heat on the square.
2. Late morning: the Presbytère. It's just across the front of the cathedral, so it's a natural next stop.
3. Lunch near Jackson Square or the French Market. Take a real break — museum fatigue is real.
4. Afternoon: the Old U.S. Mint. The walk from Jackson Square along Decatur Street and past the French Market takes about 10 to 15 minutes, or your chauffeur can move you.

Plan around one to two hours each for the Cabildo and the Presbytère, and about an hour or more at the Mint, depending on how much you read and whether there's a performance.

Hours and Tickets

Each building keeps its own hours, and they don't always match. The museum's official listings have shown the Cabildo and the Presbytère open daily with morning-to-afternoon hours and a last ticket sale before closing, but closures for state holidays, private events, building work and seasonal schedules do happen. Check louisianastatemuseum.org the day before your visit for each building's current hours, ticket options and any closures.

Walking vs. Getting Dropped Off

The French Quarter is a walking neighborhood, and on a mild day you'll probably walk between these museums. A chauffeur still makes the day easier in several ways:

• Getting to the Quarter. Street parking near Jackson Square is scarce and often restricted, and garages fill on busy days. A drop-off near the square avoids both.
• Heat and rain. Summer afternoons and sudden storms are good reasons to ride the few blocks to the Mint instead of walking.
• Mobility. For older relatives or anyone who tires easily, door-to-door rides between stops make a full museum day possible.

Because Jackson Square itself is a pedestrian area, drop-offs happen on nearby streets, chosen around traffic and any street closures that day. Our Jackson Square car service page and French Quarter car service page cover how pickups and drop-offs work in the Quarter's narrow, often one-way streets.

More Louisiana State Museum Sites Nearby

The Louisiana State Museum operates other properties in the French Quarter area, including the 1850 House in the Lower Pontalba Building on Jackson Square, a small house museum showing how a middle-class family lived in the mid-19th century. If you have extra time, it's a quick and interesting addition to the day. Check the museum's website for current sites and hours.

Building a Bigger History Day

If your group loves history, the Louisiana State Museum day pairs naturally with other major museums in the city. The National WWII Museum in the Warehouse District is a full day on its own; our National WWII Museum visitor guide covers planning that visit. Some travelers split their museum days — the French Quarter sites one day, the WWII Museum the next — to avoid fatigue.

Tips for Your Museum Day

• Start early to avoid crowds and heat.
• Wear comfortable shoes — the historic floors and Quarter sidewalks are uneven.
• Check bag policies before you bring large bags or backpacks.
• Look up events at the Jazz Museum for live music.
• Pace yourself. Three museums in a day is plenty.

Booking Your Ride

For a museum day, a round trip from your hotel works well for most visitors; if you'd like your chauffeur to move you between stops, ask about hourly service. A Mercedes-Benz E-Class seats three, and a Chevrolet Suburban seats five. Rates are flat and confirmed before you book. Call (877) 609-1919 or book online.