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The Cabildo

New OrleansAttractionhistory museum
The Cabildo
Photo: photo source

A Spanish colonial civic building beside the cathedral holds three floors of Louisiana history, art, documents and contested public memory.

Guide's tip. Look from the balcony toward the square, then connect the Louisiana Purchase transfer with the building’s later court history and current exhibitions. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last ticket at 3:30. Walk 0.06 miles to the cathedral entrance.

On a walking tour. Stop 2 of 10 on the walking tour New Orleans, French Quarter to Frenchmen Street, every stop on a map in walking order.

Open till 16:00 · about 60 min for a visit

The story

The Cabildo was built under Spanish rule between 1795 and 1799 and stands beside St. Louis Cathedral as one of the city’s defining civic buildings. Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies took place here in 1803. The building later housed city government and the state supreme court, where the Plessy v. Ferguson decision began before reaching the United States Supreme Court.

Today three floors connect Louisiana history, global relationships, art and documents. Look from the balcony toward Jackson Square, then notice how one building has served colonial power, American expansion, courts and a public museum.

The Cabildo is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last ticket at 3:30. It is wheelchair accessible by elevator. Universal Gallery should support identified objects and labels, not replace the museum’s context.

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