From the outside, this Romanesque Revival beauty feels like stepping into a cathedral of stories--brick-rich and dramatic amidst New Orleans' Warehouse Arts District. Designed by Sully & Toledano and completed around 1888, the building itself is on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, the museum houses the second-largest collection of Confederate Civil War artifacts in the U.S., surpassed only by Richmond's. We're talking over 5,000 items--everything from personal effects of Confederate generals Braxton Bragg, P.G.T. Beauregard, Robert E. Lee, Franklin Gardner, and Jefferson Davis to 140+ meticulously preserved battle flags. Key highlights include: * Jefferson Davis's Bible, saddle, and even a crown of thorns from Pope Pius IX--donated by his widow, Varina Davis. * A jaw-dropping Alabama Legion battle flag riddled with--and painstakingly repaired after--83 bullet holes, alongside a rare Confederate seal circa 1862 and a piano carried into a trench during battle, biscuits and all. * Everyday items from common soldiers--chess sets, sewing kits, mess gear--that humanize the past and bring the era to life. * The "Will to Fight" annex exhibit, exploring the mindset, religious practices, and medical realities of soldiers on both sides--warts, valor, and all read more

See all

This is the oldest museum in Louisiana & the 2nd largest Confederate collection in the nation. It opened in 1891 Sully & Toledano designed the hall in the Richardsonian Romanesque style of the Howard Library designed by H.H. Richardson. Civil War memorabilia on exhibit includes flags, uniforms, weapons, medical instruments and personal effects of President Jefferson Davis, Generals Beauregard, Lee, Bragg and other Southern leaders. read more

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum - Museums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

Excellent artifacts displayed in a beautiful Building. A little pricey but worth the visit. read more

Small, very well-curated civil war museum in a beautiful building. The focus of this museum seems to be to mainly to preserve and display artifacts. Other reviewers that complain that they "wanted other stories told" are missing the point. While those stories should be told, this is not the venue. As a Northerner I did not grow up understanding the civil war, why those who fought did so, and the utter devastation that was experienced by the Southern states. I only knew the over-simplified version we learned in school. But like any major historical event, there are no simple explanations, but many biased ones. History is not good guys and bad guys, it's the story of complicated, complex people and concepts. People in other reviews comparing the South to N**i Germany clearly understand the Civil War even less than they understand WW2. This museum is an amazing place where an important piece of history is preserved. One that many are trying very hard to erase. If you want to see more Union relics I suggest you go to the Civill War museums in Lancaster, PA, or even Richmond VA. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here and it was well worth $15. Recommended to all who seek to better understand this tragic and complicated chapter of our shared history. read more

See all

Not sure what I was expecting, but I was a little caught off-guard once we went through the museum that it's marketed as a "Civil War" museum, but really it's more of a Confederacy Museum. The location on Google Maps says "Confederate Memorial Hall," but the signage says Civil War museum. From the NOLA Visitor Information Center, they advised that all the artifacts were donated by local families. I do agree with other reviews that this collection does not detail anything about African Americans and Slavery during the Civil War, it is all about the Confederacy. I understand this is the south and they were part of the confederacy, but it's not a well-rounded Civil War museum and I wish I'd known before paying admission ($10/pp). Felt a little bit like false-advertising. Restrooms are located downstairs. Museum is self-guided, and they have a 10-15 minute video that plays in back about the confederate soldiers, some local history, and some details about the battles nearby. read more

See all

I did not realize I had written a review before. I'll update this with more info. This is the oldest museum in Louisiana. In this museum, you'll see a large collection of Confederate flags, military uniforms, and Louisiana made swords and guns. Adult admission is $10. You can probably spend 30 mins to 1 hr here. It's across the street from the WW2 museum. Everything was well taken care of. It's a self guided tour but yes I do wish they had more information on the overall Civil War. read more

See all

I seem to be picking up a whole bunch of Confederate sites lately but I'm visiting through the South and, well, they were part of the Confederacy. I'm not really a fan of the CSA, but I am a fan of history and this is all about history and a very important part of the history of the USA. This hall is a tremendous collection of Confederate memorabilia, including uniforms, maps, weapons, recovered bullets, coins, battle flags and personal possessions. The museum is densely packed but it's all viewable and very interesting. Plan for an hour or two at last. More if you're planning on reading it all. There's a lot. Gift shop has replicas of some items for sale as well as postcards and the like. Tip: Consider heading over to Biloxi for the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library, https://www.yelp.com/biz/beauvoir-jefferson-davis-shrine-biloxi-3?hrid=BWsZt2A-u_ExRjKPtx8scQ. [Review 14215 overall, 1537 of 2020, number 34 in Louisiana.] read more

See all

Has lots of confederate artifacts. Definitely worth stopping in to see it if you are in to u.s. and military history.

I'm finishing up a historical novel set here in NOLA, so of course I had to see this place--especially since I now live just half a mile away. They have some interesting things. A lot of great original artifacts somehow fit into a small space. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Yes, events are told from a southern point of view, but then we *are* in the south. Would happily recommend to fellow history geeks. read more

See all

Got some great artifacts and the staff is very helpful. A smaller museum but we'll worth the admission! read more

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum - Entry - Museums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

If you haven't been in a while, go back. They've great updated their museum, and it's in a really cool, old building. I will admit that it is not quite up to par with some of the other museums of this type that I have been to, but they have things in here NO ONE else has! It's a really good, informative, and educational exhibit. I also like that it is more from the Southern side of the conflict, and offers a slightly varied opinion of the war. It's interesting, too, that it is right around the corner from Lee Circle where the statue of Robert E. Lee was removed. read more

This civil war museum has some awesome artifacts displayed. It displayed trees embedded with grape shot and cannon balls.

Neat place, it's only $10 for a long hall and small room to the side. If you are in the area for the WW11 museum it is an easy add on. read more

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum - Museums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Right across the street from the WWII Museum, you can find this very original museum that houses a lot of history. It shouldn't take you anymore than an hour or so to go through and also has a souvenir shop to get a few trinkets. read more

This museum is very unique in that it is filled with items from the family members of the Confederate soldiers. I like this new perspective to see it through their eyes. read more

Amazing museum. Gorgeous collection. The best collection of civil war and confederate items I have ever seen read more

See all

This museum had many interesting artifacts but is misleading. It is normally titled as "The Civil War Museum," but only shows the confederate artifacts. The plaques hadn't been edited in years. They were not objective. Nothing in the entire museum talked about slavery, and there weren't any Union Artifacts. It was a very disappointing experience. Don't waste your money. read more

Fascinating collection of artifacts! Plus it's in a gorgeous building. Price has increased to $15.

This museum looks at the Civil War from a perspective that I had not considered before. The perspective of the South. The war of Northern Aggression. It is a neutral viewpoint, not against any race or gender, just shows the uniforms, sells books, and hats. It also has the history of the flags that were used during this time period. When you come in and pay, you get a handout that describes each of the flags that were used during this period. It is a beautiful building that you have to go up several steps to get in to. I am not sure about handicap access. It does not get into the details of the politics, but with the actual uniforms, flags, and other memorabilia, it is very interesting. Evidently, the Confederate Memorial Hall opened its doors in New Orleans on January 8, 1891, and since that time has been commemorating the military history and heritage of the South. The museum is the oldest in Louisiana and houses one of the largest collections of Confederate memorabilia in the United States. The interior of the main area of the museum reminds me of a church. An older church with dark wood walls, an open ceiling showing the dark wooden beams that make up the peak of the building. The exterior is a reddish brick. The restrooms are downstairs. Again, I am not sure about any handicap accessibility, though the restrooms are gender neutral. Parking is all paid parking, and shared with the other museums in the area. $8 admission is just the right price for the small museum. My favorite was seeing the medical instruments of the time period. I am unsure how appropriate this museum for kids under the age of 12 or so. There seems to be a lot of items that can be harmful or that kids can damage. If you are looking for something to do that is away from the crowds, this is a good option. The WWII museum, Lee Circle, Ogden Museum and the Children's Museum are all within a few blocks, so it would be nice to take several days in this area with the kidlets or if your just interested in museums. read more

See all

This isn't a very big museum, but if you enjoy history, it's a nice spot to visit. It's right by the WWII museum. They have many different artifacts from the civil war and some of the clothing as well. They have many pictures and flags on the wall. I'm one room they show the guns and medical supplies and cannon balls used in the war. They also have a little room that plays videos about the civil war. read more

See all

I passed by this museum while enroute to a restaurant. So glad I saw it because I enjoy museums a lot and like to experience others' perspectives on history. First, I love the architecture of the building. The interior of the building has an old soul feel to it. I believe there is a $10 admission fee. They offer a short movie as well. The staff member at the front desk area will tell you the location and duration of the movie. I felt the movie (documentary) was okay. I enjoyed looking at the various artifacts on display. Staff didn't seem that personable. I feel that they could've been friendlier. The gentleman who admitted me to the museum was informative though. He made sure I knew where various things were located including public restrooms. I wouldn't have a desire to return here. Although I'm glad that I visited and had an opportunity to experience. I also believe it was raining this day in NOLA so perfect opportunity for museums! Also, if you're driving through the warehouse district be careful to look for this place because if you' free distracted for a bit you might miss it. My Uber or Lyft driver drove past it slightly. Overall, it should take about an hour to two hours to get through the museum. read more

I find the reviews of this museum absolutely fascinating; people either love it or hate it. Now that I've visited it, I'm going to give it 5 stars but for an entirely different reason than the other highly rated reviews. If you're looking for a museum that interprets the Civil War and all of its social, political, cultural and economic complexities, then this museum will fall flat. As others have noted, it has rows of glass cases full of material culture of various descriptions. The placards vary in degrees of usefulness. My wife (who is not a historian) humored me and feigned interest, but she told me after we left that it was deadly boring to her. Of course, if you're interested in the Civil War and already have a good understanding of what happened, then you'll probably find this place fascinating. I'm a firearms historian (I should be working on my thesis ... instead I'm procrastinating on Yelp) and really enjoyed the displays; especially the one with two LeMat's revolvers sitting side-by-side. If you know what I'm talking about, then your saliva glands will probably kick in instinctively. And if you don't know what I'm talking about ... well, it's two more old dusty guns in another long glass case. Yawn. But, here's why this museum is worth visiting, and here's what they don't tell you at the museum: In the late 19th century, there was a tremendous movement afoot (spurred by the likes of the Daughters of the Confederacy and other such organizations) to recast the Civil War in a gentler, more "moral" light. This is best seen in the tradition of monument building ... you can see evidence of this a few hundred feet from the museum at the Robert E. Lee Memorial. In short: there was a realization that many of the original Civil War soldiers were starting to die off. Without those people who experienced the Civil War firsthand, there was concern that their efforts would be lost and their memories smeared. Therefore, monuments to Civil War heroes were erected all over the south to mould our collective memory of what the Civil War was. It was a brilliant exercise in marketing and it worked, by and large. Historian Catherine Bishir has an excellent article about monument building that is well worth reading if these things interest you. So, consider the museum not in the context of the Civil War (1861 to 1865), but rather in the context of the late 1800's when the museum came into existence. This was a time when people wanted to venerate Civil War veterans and political leaders as moral heroes fighting the good fight. That the museum is in an old church building is no accident; this was very much intended to be a shrine. The artifacts on display are the relics of the people the museum holds in sainthood. And the story the museum tells is not so much the story of the Civil War, but rather the canonization of the memory that the Daughters of the Confederacy wanted for their fathers. Small wonder that Jefferson Davis' jacket, slippers, walking stick, musket (a real beauty from the Whitneyville armories) and saddle preside over the altar. And in this sense, the museum stands as a rather unique example of this sort of monument building. I wish the museum did a better job of interpreting itself thus, but I can also understand it not wanting to feel like a part of a 19th century marketing campaign. Even my wife (who is neither a historian nor particularly interested in the Civil War) found the museum absolutely fascinating once she understood this context. And, based on this recommendation, I hope you do too. read more

Call it what you will: The Civil War, The War Between The States, The War of Northern Aggression. No matter what the label, it was a bloody, death filled mile marker of our country's history, and the story of this internal conflict should be preserved. This, however, is not the case at the Confederate Museum. Opened in 1891, this institution prides itself on being the oldest hall of exhibition in the state of Louisiana. As you walk through the doors into the main hall, one cannot help but feel a tinge of awe at the architecture, and craftsmanship. As you pay your eight dollar admission, you are informed of the museum rules: Do not touch anything, and no photography of any sort (the reason given to me on the latter is that everything has been photographed, documented, and included in book & DVD format, which are for sale in the gift shop). As you stroll through the hall, viewing the exhibits, one cannot help but notice the glaring lack of information. Sure, there's placards that will inform you that, for example, that a flag belonged to a volunteer infantry out of Louisiana, or that the silverware was owned by the wife of a general, but so what? What's not stated is their place in history, or importance. You'll find that there is very little information here. A person would have to be a college graduate who majored in American History/Civil War to really appreciate the housed collection. The gift shop contains the usual trinkets one finds in these types of stores, such as spoons, magnets, stickers, books and DvDs. You get the idea. What is surprisingly tasteless, and will no doubt cast this repository in a different light, is the DvD display of the Disney film, 'Song of The South,' which is available for purchase here. Since this film has nothing to do with the actual Civil War and depicts an antiquated, and racist view of the South, its inclusion here was offensive. I exited the building, not feeling cheated, but definitely expecting the ghost of PT Barnum to be outside, saying "Told Ya". I advise anyone considering visiting, to instead visit and any of the many antique shops within New Orleans. It's cheaper, and you'll get a better sense of history. read more

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum - Museums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

I'm bummed that you're not allowed to take pictures in this national treasure of a museum. I'm proud that we have this museum as a needful corrective to Yankee rewriting of history. Go to learn more about the War of Northern Aggression/War for Southern Independence. Go to learn about the bravery of Southern men who wanted to protect home and hearth. Go to learn about slaves who voluntarily fought to defend the South against Northern Invaders. The museum takes the useful and smart position of not trying to make it about "who was right" but about the reality about the complexity of the situation by showing facts and exhibits that go beyond the silly historical caricature of Southerner as racist banshee. Most people don't know just how racist the North was. Illinois, for example, banned the emigration of free blacks. If you tried to enter Illinois as a free black you were subject to arrest and imprisonment! Go here, but only if you have an open mind and you want to learn some things that will challenge the version of history you learned in high school, which is probably roughly similar to the Yankee tale of North = good, South = bad that I received. read more

A decent museum with some cool artifacts. It is all self guided and only one employee working there. The cost is $10 which is kind of high when compared to other options that have more items and staff to answer questions. Not a bad visit but if I could go back would not do it again and would encourage you to just skip it. read more

The museum is in a beautiful building and has a cute history (in that it shows the love of people remembering the family they lost). It's a little small with an $8 admission, but shows a very interesting, human side to the average soldier and at the end of the day, it's really more about the people who remembered them. According to the introductory video, there are things that go bump in the night so amateur ghost hunters, respectfully ready your cameras. Nothing in my shots, alas. read more

try as I might I just couldn't get into it... And this review isn't agenda or politically driven (even though someone pulled down my first 2-star review, so now my review is a 1-star). The museum is dark and brooding, even on an intensely bright summer day. To me the glorified tributes were sadly irrelevant and boring. There is a video that I watched regarding the history of the handsome structure (which truly it is) but even that made me antsy to leave. read more

Probably the best Confederate history museum in terms of coolest items available for viewing that I've ever visited. Really brings the history and personalities of the war to life. This is a fairly small place that is quite crowded with artifacts but it's very easy to go through quickly if, like me, time was limited. The items are clearly labeled but I don't recall there being much exposition or narrative to provide a context for the items' significance. I visited back in December 2015 while attending a wedding in which my girlfriend was in the wedding party. For various reasons this is a museum that she would NEVER agree to visit as she has strong opinions about the subject matter and no real interest in viewing artifacts of the slave-holding oligarchy that was the Confederacy (slavery was the kindling that started the war after all, and our ancestors were pretty honest about that - be like me - love the history, but don't be blind). Fortunately, while this museum doesn't seem to have any big theme or provide a lot of context beyond what the items are, that keeps it from being propoganda for South-demonizers who believe Django Unchained is a documentary, or Lost Cause fanatics who talked about how happy the "servants" were while dressed as smiling Southern belles (makes my stomach turn). As for me, this was a museum I simply could not miss. As a native Southerner with two great-grandfathers (and many uncles) who enlisted in the Confederate military - one who returned from the front to serve in the Alabama Home Guard and was ultimately killed by "Tory" Unionist Yankee-sympathizers near the "Free State of Winston" and another who fought in seemingly every rear-guard action as a cavalryman in the Army of Tennessee - naturally there's an appeal to the "Lost Cause" mythos and the associated history, although as a realist I intellectually understand the reality of the situation was far from the romantic chivalry the unreconstructed would have us believe. Seeing the flags, guns, and clothes was an amazing opportunity. While bridal pictures were being taken I practically ran down the road to this museum about .8 miles away. The entry fee was a very affordable and I had time to see everything in the museum in maybe 20 minutes. Granted you could easily spend a lot longer here, but on my schedule I still left feeling satisfied and to some extent awed. The best parts without a doubt are the collection of battle flags and the clothes - including an outfit belonging to Jefferson Davis. Notice how SMALL all the clothes are. I don't know if clothes shrink when they get really old but I still think it shows that people really WERE smaller back then. Very cool - it's as close as you'll ever get to imagining Jefferson Davis is standing right in front of you offering you an appointment in the Confederate cabinet. The clothes to me really bring it to life, as do the flags - you can really imagine them fluttering through the air on a smoke-filled battlefield carried by some young brave soldier as bullets whizz by and cannons thunder. Bottom-line: If you're a history buff, particularly of Confederate history or Civil War history, this place is a can't-miss. It's affordable and a ton of fun to see the artifacts. read more

Museum offered a skewed account of events surrounding the civil war and merely glorified the antebellum south. There are quite a few artifacts which, if you are a history buff, are always cool to see, but that's where it ends. I wouldn't recommend. read more

We made sure to pay this museum a visit on our recent New Orleans vacation. It is on the small side, but chock full of artifacts and memorabilia from the Civil War, Kepi hats, uniforms, flags, weaponry, photos, etc. They also had a doctor's amputation kit on display. Very informative and the staff was knowledgeable and friendly.$10.00 admission, also a small gift shop. Blessedly air conditioned as well. read more

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum - Entrance to this enchanting museum. - Museums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

It should be called what it is, a memorial to the confederacy. It is not in any way a Civil War Museum. It's insulting to the truth of the war, these were racists. I am very sorry I spent my money here, we left after a very short visit. Go across the street to the World War 2 Museum, well worth the time and money. read more

This museum hosts one of the largest displays of Confederate artifacts from The War of Northern Aggression in the world. They house a display of actual uniforms, swords, pistols, long arms, canons, flags and other artifacts used in the war. They also have related items that put some men like Jefferson Davis in a further context with items from their life and their families lives. They also have soldier reenactors that will be present at times that can give even more context and explain in more detail the equipment and life of the typical soldier of the time. There is also a small gift store with many affordable items and books. The entrance fee is quite reasonable and if you're a history buff you will really enjoy this museum while if you're not a history buff you should educate yourself and start becoming one. read more

Similar to Michael H. from Raleigh, NC. I give this museum an "A for effort." I visited this past week and although it should not matter - I am a female of color. I'll explain why it did matter later. So happens that I call home, Margaret Mitchell's fictional Tara or Jonesboro, Georgia. I study the Magnolia Myth (which portrays slavery as an institution that made, servants of savages and Christians of infidels) and its impact on K12 schooling as an educational researcher. Confederate Memorial Hall does accomplish its task of, "collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting authentic historical material of the American Civil War." They met that task so well, that I became a member. From the membership card, I make these quotes. Where it falls short is on its mission to, "broaden the knowledge of the general public by presenting in an NON-IDEOLOGICAL way, the trials and tribulations of those who have gone before, that required courage, patriotism and devotion to duty." I mention the Magnolia Myth (magnolia gradiflora being the state flower/tree of several southern states where the antebellum plantation economy thrived) earlier in this review to clarify that this museum upholds the Lost Cause IDEOLOGY by avoiding displays of critical perspectives of the confederacy and why the American Civil War took place to begin with. I give it five stars primarily because of Pat the curator. After Mrs. Pat assessed that I was not the media she treated me as a fellow researcher. As a result, I spent nearly three hours in that little building fascinated with its well appointed collection with interesting artifacts from the period. Pat even invited me to their archival records that are not open tho the general public to see an elderly "Uncle Henry" - once a proud slave soldier in the Confederate Army and man servant to one of its generals dressed in his old uniform and donning all his service medals of honor. Returning to why my racial make-up mattered: against the advice of a local who had discouraged me from patronizing the museum simply because he thought I would not be welcomed (due to my outstanding features: brown skin and locks down my back) during this politically challenging time for Confederate monuments in New Orleans. I did sense a palpable tension from Mary who monitored my actions in the museum store and another young male employee who made me feel very uncomfortable and I can't quite verbalize why. Some other patrons brushed against me a little too aggressively and others stared me down as if I was on exhibit. Nevertheless, Pat's willingness to discuss the power of southern women in plantation society and moreso, American society through one of the museum's first major contributors, Jefferson Davis' wife, Varina was the highlight of my experience. I had an amazing time. Highly recommended for serious Civil War enthusiasts. read more

Went here a few years ago and really enjoyed the visit. There are not many visitors, so the docents will spend time talking with you, which works much better than reading all the stuff on the displays. Recently was in New Orleans again and sad to see the museum closed for renovations. This was definitely needed as the exhibits were dated. I know they got hit hard during Katrina. The building is owned by the university and they were having a hard time keeping the place together before the storm. Now they've changed the name to the Civil War Museum, perhaps to draw a larger crowd. Hopefully it works, this is an important part of our history that is frequently overlooked, but should not be forgotten. When it reopens, I hope to return and, will most likely add more stars! read more

I think this is a really interesting museum stop in New Orleans. There is a lot of information packed in a relatively small space. As a "northerner," (actually from California, but that's all sort of the same here), it was cool to see the Civil War from a Southern perspective. In addition, New Orleans has a very unique Civil War history because it was actually occupied by Union troops for most of the war--which also explains the existence of many pre-Civil War era buildings in the city. So, not only is there a great story of how Union officers ran the city, but a Confederate perspective on their performance. I also like the size of this museum. I sort of have a pretty short attention span when it comes to these things and after about 45 minutes in a big museum my eyes just glaze over and it becomes all sorts of words with no meaning. This museum does have a lot of information, but it's not overwhelming. Great size for an hour or two tour. Also, the building is a great example of Richardsonian architecture. I highly recommend this place to visitors and locals. read more

I am a HUGE civil war buff and was pleasantly surprised that there was a civil war museum in the heart of NOLA. Quite unassuming little place because it is a bit overshadowed by the hugeness that is the WWII museum which is right across the street. Walked in a my gosh! They had so much in such a little area. It is two floors but so much history! They had original oil paintings of Nathan Bedford Forrest and General Lee! They have cannons and lots of artifacts like army gear, uniforms even ladies fashion of the time. The curator was a huge buff and quite delightful to speak with.He laughed and agreed when I pointed to my new hubby and remarked how he looks like General Lee. The cost was $10 per person but well worth it. I even bought some replica jewelry on my way out. A+!! read more

I really like history, so I enjoyed looking around this museum. It's a lot smaller than the WWII Museum down the street (which is basically an entire day trip in itself haha), but has a lot of great artifacts from the Civil War. The only thing I wish was developed a bit more is the story behind the Civil War. It could provide deeper historical context, and then paralel the events of the war with each of the artifacts rather than just saying what they were/who they belonged to! If you love history or the Civil War definitely come here! :) read more

Lots of cool artifacts and history within a smaller museum. $8 admission and a video that runs every 25 mins. Came to this place on the way to WWII museum, not my cup of tea but the artifacts were cool to see for the price. read more

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum - Museums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Don't be expecting a huge modern facility, to compare with the national World War II Museum. This place feels like it should. Smaller, with antique cases and many, many personally owned and identified items from the Civil War. It may be small, but there are world-class items in this museum. One of the kind things that you simply won't see anywhere else. This is a nice place to visit. read more

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum - Museums Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

This is a great piece of history! Civil war history and a lot of information archived.