Best History Museum in Metairie

"Warehouse DistrictSuffice it to say, if you served in the United States Military during WWII, you’re granted free admission to the National WWII Museum, which is a really amazing place worth paying to visit, anyhow. But if you’re not a member of “The Greatest Generation,” but still a US veteran, you can still visit the museum for free on certain national holidays (check the website for details). Again, though, you should pay to check this place out: it has boats, and tanks, and airplanes, and a 4D cinematic experience narrated by Tom Hanks."

"Older kids and adults will find this exemplary museum worth exploring. Exhibits examine America's contribution to the Allied victory in World War II, with a multi-sensory cinematic feature produced and narrated by Tom Hanks playing at the 4D Solomon Victory Theater. A post shared by The National WWII Museum (@wwiimuseum) on Mar 31, 2018 at 3:03pm PDT"

"The National World War II Museum is a humongous cultural center that can take nearly the whole day to explore. The museum tells the story of why the war was fought, how it was won and its significance today."

"Commemorating 300 years of New Orleans, the Historic New Orleans Collection houses multiple exhibits including two historic homes (from 1792 and 1890), a bookstore, and an art gallery. The THNOC includes 10 historic buildings that cover two campuses in The Quarter. Four exhibition spaces present permanent and rotating exhibitions showcasing New Orleans history and art."

"The HNOC is on a mission to preserve the French Quarter and New Orleans history. The space houses seven different exhibition halls with constantly evolving collections. Afro-Creole poetry, French Quarter life, second lines and social aid & pleasure clubs are just a few highlights."

"In 1804 the State of Louisiana passed a law requiring a licensing exam for would-be pharmacists. The first person to pass this exam was one Louis J. Dufilho Jr. , becoming the first licensed pharmacist in the United States. You can drop by his premises on Chartres Street in the French Quarter, where stacks of strange remedies line the walls in historic apothecary bottles."

"If you’re looking for an off-beat experience on New Orleans history, check out this eccentric museum that is housed in a 19th-century pharmacy. The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum showcases formerly popular medicines, including potions and leeches. A post shared by @melissasemiao on Mar 25, 2018 at 12:16pm PDT"

"It’s also an excellent place to people watch and where a number of New Orleans’ historical landmarks like The St Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, and The Presbytère are located (with Preservation Hall and The Historic New Orleans Collection nearby). Tons of artists, musicians, and fortune tellers hang out in Jackson Square and in the spirit of disclosure, I spent most of my time here people-watching and eating beignets. However, if you want to be a little more cultured than I was, visit one or several of the above-mentioned landmarks for even more NOLA history."

"– Where else can you learn about Louisiana History, Mardi Gras, and Hurricane Katrina for only $7?. The Presbytere allows guests to visit its museum daily Tuesday-Sunday from 1030 am – 4 pm."

"One of the twin Spanish colonial buildings flanking the St. Louis Cathedral, this one, on the right, was built on the site of the priests'…"

"The Historic Voodoo Museum is one of the best spots in New Orleans where the public can learn about the real history of Voodoo in New Orleans. The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum was founded in 1972 as a repository for Voodoo-related artifacts and objects that tell the story of its long history in the Crescent City. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, visitors can tour the museum daily, and join one of its haunted cemetery walking tours."

"It has been described as “one of the most unique and interesting small museums in the country.” The New Orleans Voodoo Museum explores the history and culture of voodoo religion and its connection to New Orleans. Museum and cemetery tours as well as readers and practitioners are available."

"After voodoo (or vodou) came to New Orleans in the 1700s—first via West African slaves, then with Haitians after the Haitian Revolution—it entwined with the city’s identity. Which is why, since the 1970s, a French Quarter visit has been deemed incomplete without a stop at the tiny Historic Voodoo Museum. If it’s lore you seek, you’ll find it here."

"After Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana, much of New Orleans was flooded as the levees broke and the sea rushed in. The 9th Ward in particular was one of the hurricane’s biggest victims, suffering losses in both lives and properties when the Industrial Canal levee broke. This corner of the city has since remained largely empty, with many of its original residents simply choosing to not return."

"Lower Ninth Ward, naturallyThis neighborhood of New Orleans, East and across the Industrial Canal from the hipster-inflected Bywater, is most notable in the media for two things. Firstly, it was one of the hardest hit by Katrina flooding, and is still one of the last to fully recover."

"Explore the history of New Orleans' historic Lower 9th Ward pre-, during, and post- Hurricane Katrina. Admission is always free."

"The Whitney plantation is the first American museum dedicated to slavery. It has records of memoirs from literate slaves and their experiences. The Whitney plantation focuses on the institution of slavery. The Laura plantation is a creole owned plantation whereby the family tell the history of the their generation."

"Whitney Plantation, on the other hand, focuses on slavery and what life was like for the slaves living on the plantation. There are personal narratives and exhibits of the slaves who lived on the plantation which can certainly be more emotional but important history to understand nevertheless."

"If you’re going to visit any plantations, please make The Whitney Plantation a priority. It’s the first slavery museum in America, dedicated to telling the history of slaves in their own words, taken from historical records."

"Located just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Bourbon Street, Preservation Hall is the best place in the French Quarter to catch traditional New Orleans jazz. It’s home to one of the city’s favorite groups, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and hosts some of the best local musicians onstage every week. This music venue was founded in 1961 to protect, preserve, and perpetuate traditional New Orleans jazz music."

"After dinner is sure to check out live jazz at Preservation Hall. This ended up being our favorite thing we did in New Orleans and strongly suggest you don’t miss out on this during your 3 days in New Orleans."

"This historic jazz hall, with a location just steps away from Bourbon Street, is known to attract a crowd. Accordingly, admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. And, it’ll cost $20 to get in."

"Features an impressive collection of original paintings, works on paper, and sculpture by some of history’s most revered artists. Representing over five centuries of fine art, we specialize in original works from the old masters to the modern masters, as well as a select group of renowned contemporary artists."

"Steak + Chop, 91 Westbank Expressway, Gretna, (504) 513-2606; Craft Tavern, 700 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 613-2350; 759 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 309-5231; TackleBox, Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette French Quarter Area Hotel, 817 Common St., (504) 827-1651; www.legacykitchen.com. Redfish St. Charles features a seared fillet topped with garlic-herb butter, seared asparagus and baby portobello mushrooms served with crawfish cornbread. Reservations accepted."

"Christmas lights wind through a treasure trove of old and new food-related books, many carrying the names of local chefs — Besh, Link, Prudhomme, Spicer — and restaurants. In the mix: vintage church cookbooks (“Angel Food”), “vacation” glasses (to-go cups) and hundreds of record albums."

"This 1930s-era, working class steakhouse isn’t fancy in the world of modern steakhouses. In fact, a step inside feels like a legitimate step back in time. There has never been a printed menu, as the only dishes coming out of the kitchen are steaks and sides."

"4510 Dryades St., (504) 895-9323; www.charliessteakhousenola.com. A Charlie is a grilled 32-ounce T-bone steak served on a sizzling platter, and a 26-ounce cut also is available. Reservations recommended."

"It’s one of a handful of surviving notable neighborhood steak houses (it’s not far from where the original Ruth’s Chris was also once a neighborhood spot), a no-frills joint with faux-wood paneling..."

"Designed by architect Thomas Sully and built in 1893 as a private residence, The Columns was converted into a boarding house during World War I. A local family turned the mansion into a hotel in 1953, and that’s when the porch bar became popular. Jayson Seidman, a hotelier who developed The Drifter and The Frenchmen, purchased the property in 2019. During the summer, there’s nothing quite like sitting on the porch, sipping a mint julep and watching the St. Charles Streetcar ferry passengers along the avenue."

"This old school New Orleans hotel sits right on St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District, with a front patio that provides the best seating around for watching the streetcars laze on by. Grab a mint julep or Pimm’s cup at the bar and make yourself comfortable, because you’ll probably want to stick around a while."

"MarignyOpen 'til 4am amongst the bustling music clubs on Frenchmen Street, 13’s beloved “Tachos” (aka tater tot nachos) have filled the booze-laced bellies of many vegetarians and carnivores over the years. Covering all its bases, 13 also has a full bar and serves breakfast all day."

"This laid-back joint offers vegetarian-centric pub grub in a casual barroom setting. Walk past the bar and video poker machines to grab a seat at a tall table by the open kitchen. Tator tachos (gloriously spicy, cheesy and messy potato tot nachos) are a longtime menu favorite."