We popped in to this small urban visitor center that explores the music of NO and the nearby history of the French Quarter. We spent about thirty minutes here watching a short film on the Mississippi River and reading the exhibits on the culture of the people. We did learn about a jazz performance at their other nearby location which was very good. Worth a short detour. read more

The Baseline: For a national park/monument visitor's center the facility must be informative, have great exhibits, and have a park rangers that are knowledgeable of one of the United States' greatest ideas ever implemented that is the National Parks of America. Facility: The New Orleans Jazz/Jean Lafitte French Quarter Visitors Center is a clean, well presented center with great displays and a well organized gift store. Personnel: The park rangers were friendly and informative about the activities in the park. We were given several suggestions of visiting the preserve and the local battlefield as well as information on those locations. The rangers have to be public relations and gift shop customer service at the same time so be kind to your National Park Ranger. They also run programs to educate on the parks and monuments. Stamps: You can get your passport stamps next to the gift shop and Ranger's info station. Special note: If you have young kids or want to be a kid yourself make sure to take advantage of the Junior Rangers program. You will learn and enjoy the National Park more that way. read more

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What a hidden gem! They have so much information it's pretty amazing. The rangers were super nice and gave me lots of good info. I am from Texas and so I always see the visitor centers that are not in the middle of a busy area, this was a very cool surprise to run into! The mini clarinet ornaments were so freakin New Orleans -vibey, all of the trinkets really. If you are not really looking to check out all the things you know, kinda like in the whole family goes into one place, but then the dad sits outside on the benches. Well, they have beautiful benches in the courtyard as well as a bench in the center inside, which shows a film. read more

French Quarter Visitor Center - Movie theatre 7 mins - Visitor Centers Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We happened upon this museum by chance/accident and are happy we did. First it's free, second it's educational, and third it's air conditioned. The national park service did an impressive job creating this visitor center. The center provides a good deal of New Orleans historical information in an organized aesthetic way. We spent the majority of our time here listening to the audio exhibits. Escape from the humidity and learn more about New Orleans history and culture! read more

French Quarter Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Best free attraction in the French Quarter, and run by the National Park Service! Happened to walk by and noticed this peaceful place. They had a free Jazz music performance inside a courtyard building, plenty of places to sit so you can rest your feet, and lots of exhibits/displays inside including a short show about the Mississippi River. A great stop for the whole family. read more

This is easy to miss if you aren't looking. Fortunately I spied the National Park Service signage while walking down the street. Once you head down a brick walkway in between building you will find a courtyard and a visitor's center. The center is informative with a good amount of historical information. There are pamphlets and maps as well. There were no programs happening when I was there so my stay was short. I bet it would be lovely to listen to music in the courtyard! read more

It's an open market with junk from China. Nothing to see here. And 90% of the food spots were closed.

This is an oasis in the hustle and bustle, the depravity, the excess, of the French Quarter. You can miss it if you're not looking. There is an opening leading to a garden on Decatur Street, and a small sign that says it's a National Park. You walk. Ethernet two wide walls of rock, on a pathway of brick, and come into a lovely garden. It's a veritable eden in the madness of a large city. There are places to sit and relax, to reflect on all the colors and noises and tastes that have invaded your senses. There is peace. There is also a visitors museum, which goes into the 66 block area of the Vieux Carré (old Square). The museum discusses the history of the area, architecture, music, etc. The area is protected, which is why the French Quarter stands out as an entity all its own. Stop in, learn, and sit a spell. read more

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This National Historic Park and Nature Preserve visitor center, named after pirate Jean Lafitte, is a respite of tranquility, and also has informative displays. The Visitor Center has a beautiful little courtyard with a huge Magnolia tree, other flora, fountains, informational signs about the history of the area, and also clean bathrooms. The visitor's center has information on the flora and peoples that settled in the area, and I can't wait to get back and listen to the recordings of their language, their music, their customs. There's also a gift shop with New Orleans history, cookbooks, etc. that one doesn't always find in the tourist shops. This National Park and Preserve visitor center was one of my favorite finds on my recent trip, and I look forward to heading out to the swamp/National Park as well on future visits. read more

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A must visit if you want to know a bit about the history of New Orleans. What we really enjoyed was the FREE jazz concerts in the courtyard!! We miss the walking tours (they had them before CoVID), but the free jazz concerts made up for it. We love visiting the free French Quarter Visitor Center and Jazz Preserve whenever we visit New Orleans. We always seem to learn something new each visit! read more

French Quarter Visitor Center - Free educational concert near the courtyard - Visitor Centers Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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A nice facility but not much to it. Some decent and informative displays. Enthusiastic rangers. Well kept facility. Displays have some interesting content. If not there for a program, I think it would be a stretch to spend 45 minutes in the center. It is free, so can't hurt to stop by in area but not a must see national park site. read more

A National Park in the middle of the French Quarter! Wow! Well, actually this is the Visitor Center for the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park & Preserve which is located somewhere else, but it is still awesome. This is a MUST-VISIT for a much needed culture and history lesson on the land and the people that make this part of the country so rich and full. Just like any National Park, you can get your National Parks Passport stamped here. If I knew I was going to run across a national park in the middle of the French Quarter, I would have brought mine. But not to worry! As with all the other national parks, they have pieces of paper available which you can stamp and take home with you. This building is beautiful and admission is free. The interior is air-conditioned and there is a large clean bathroom off the courtyard. There are videos, audios, posters, etc that bring to life the different people that came together that made Nouvelle Orleans, New Orleans. In here, the language, the food, the culture are explained. We learn the difference between Creole and Cajun among other things. And you can't learn about the history of New Orleans without learning about its music too, which they touch on here. read more

this is a lovely place to go and visit. The people who work there really love what they do. I went on the free tour. I think each guide gives a different perspective on the history of new orleans. The one I went on was led by a woman who told the story through the eyes of 4 historical New Orleans women. It was informative. My only gripe was that I had to wake up early to get there at 9 (i arrived at 915 and got the last ticket). and there was a lot of walking. not the most enjoyable thing to do on a hot May morning. I know, nothing that they could control. But definitely worth the time and money. read more

The Jean Lafitte National Park is divided up into 6 parts all over south Louisiana. This the part that's in the FQ. They offer walking tours and great information on the FQ and even have their Jr. Ranger program if you have kids. They don't offer as many walking tours as they once did after the local for profit tour groups complained. Well worth a stop...and not just because my uncle plays as a park ranger as his retirement job. read more

Disclaimer: I'm a nerd What a cool spot! Originally the house of the engineer who laid out the French Quarter, who greedily claimed the best plot of land to build himself a house, the building is now a place to honor the rich history of New Orleans. They have park rangers who give free talks where you can learn all about the influences that have built the city to be what it is today. We were lucky enough to walk in when this was happening and spent 35-45 minutes learning about the history of the French Quarter and how New Orleans was developed. A Hidden gem well worth the visit! read more

Easy to overlook on busy Decatur Street, the entrance to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve's French Quarter Visitor Center is reached via a long corridor, with a few information displays along the way about NOLA history and architecture, and ending in a pleasant, quiet courtyard. The entrance to the visitor center is to the left. Inside is a surprisingly attractive museum, compact in size but touching on many aspects of New Orleans history, geography, and culture through effective use of photos, both small and life-size, art, timelines, maps, and interactive exhibits. The latter allows visitors to listen to different types of NOLA musical styles and dialects, a perfect way to feature this integral part of their history. This quiet, thoughtful museum does not charge an entry fee, although guests are welcome to leave a donation. I've enjoyed exploring it on my own but one can also sign up for a free daily tour. An oasis within the French Quarter, and really a must-visit for anyone visiting NOLA with some curiosity about its history. read more

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What a fun place full of super helpful people who are full of tons of knowledge! My mom and I were originally drawn to the FREE walking tour offered (daily, get your tickets early so that they don't run out). We got there just at 9 and then went down a little ways to the CCs to get some coffee before the tour. Our guide was a nice young redhead who had just completed his masters in history (and also stated that he absolutely loved his job, which was apparent in the way he recounted history). Although it was raining, our group soldiered on and got to enjoy the walk through the rain. The "tour" is quite short and takes you along the river, ending where the canon is overlooking/across the street from Jackson's Square. I learned quite a bit of new information that I never would have known had I not gone on the tour. We also go to have a nice bite to eat at Cafe du Monde afterwards as we were so close at the end. If you're not interested in the tour, the visitors center is quite nice. We were also directed to the tourist service (bordering Jackson's Square) by another park ranger, where we were then directed to other tours that were state sanctioned (aka tours actually grounded in fact since that's what my mom was looking for). Yay for helpfulness! I will definitely recommend this tour/visitor's center to local friends and visitors alike! What a great service put on by our national parks system! read more

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Why am I giving this place 5 stars? Air conditioning and restrooms. You know you want it when it feels like a sauna outside. Come in for a nice refuge from the heat and humidity. There's actually some exhibits you can see so you can make the most of your cooling off period. read more

Nice place with friendly employees. Conveniently located in the Vieux Carré/Quarter. They have a museum and a lovely courtyard. The courtyard is full of lush greenery. A great place to rest. The museum was fairly large, free of course and full of a variety of information. read more

This is an old train station.There's an exhibit in it about New Orleans, a gift shop, and an info center. If you're planning what to do next in New Orleans, you might want to stop here (or start here). It's on the edge of the Treme, so if you are taking a walk on a hot day, its also a nice place to stop and cool off before exploring some more. It is very close to St. Louis Cemetary #1, so a good place to go before or after that. read more

Friendly park rangers. Another stamp for your National Park passport. Ranger led tour of the Riverfront is available at 9:30am for an hour. We would have taken it except it was way too hot and humid for us. Good info on the Louisiana delta region. read more

A good one-stop-shop to get a good overview of the history of the area and the battle of New Orleans. read more

Big space, but not really worth it. There is a nice courtyard behind it with restrooms, worth it for a relaxing stop. There are interactive displays, the music one was okay. I went in to find out more about Barataria and only got a map. The employee was too involved with personal business on the phone. They do have a little shop with some good books. read more

French Quarter Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I wouldn't expect much when visiting this place, but it's good place to look around if you want a quick overview of the history and culture of New Orleans. The best exhibits in my opinion is the one on Hurricane Katrina and the one on how New Orleans is a sinking due to the levees. Basically, each exhibit consists of a big map and a really good news article...but hey, that's all that is required of a good brief overview. The book selection is small and I wish there was a book on specifically about the levees. read more

French Quarter Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Parking at the visitor center is cheaper than parking directly in the French Quarter. Not only that they have restrooms for the public to use and all the history you need to know about the french quarter! You honestly don't even have to book any tour when this is free historical information center. Overall, I do recommend checking this place out, they have cute and cool historical items in this center. Very good for kids. read more

I really appreciated this visitor center. Great information about French Quarter. Friendly staff and clean public restroom. Have a nice specious courtyard which would be nice during the nice day. read more

Run by the National Park service, this is the perfect first stop when visiting the French Quarter. In addition to the historical and cultural exhibits, the Jean Lafitte center offers a walking tour of the French Quarter which starts with a nice presentation about New Orleans and goes along the river ending in Jackson Square. The tour lasts about an hour. The guides are very knowledgeable and you get a taste of all of the other sights that you can see later in your trip. The gift shop is also cute and has nice cultural gifts including cook books, New Orleans fiction and picture books. read more

This was a break spot on the tour that we were on! They have small exhibits that teach you about the area's cultural, commercial and historic presence! The exhibits are very nicely done with plenty of artifacts and maps. I found the train map/exhibit very interesting. They also have a small gift shop with some non-hokey stuff which was a nice change from the tourist traps. You can also pick up city maps here that have transit information on them as well! Other highlights is there are clean restrooms and you can also grab a cup of coffee! read more

Well worth the price --- yeah, its FREE so you get what you pay for...hahaha. Our tour guide was a very informative Park Ranger who had a wealth of knowledge about the local history of the Mississippi River etc. The only downside is that -- due to a gentleman's agreement with the "Friends Of Cabaldo", the Park Service is not allowed to take guests into the architectural aspects of the FQ, and instead concentrates on the river, the levees, and the French Market side. The river was spectacular on the day we visited --- almost overflowing its banks but the levees were doing their job of keeping the city dry.... read more

The Jean Lafitte National Park Visitors Center, located in what was once a French Quarter car dealership, not only has information about the various sites that make up the Jean Lafitte parks but has displays about Louisiana history, culture, and wildlife. It is from the Visitors Center that the Park Service hands out 25 free walking tour tickets at 9:00 a.m. each morning for a 1-hour ranger-led New Orleans history tour starting at 9:30 with an emphasis on the French Quarter. I had done the Visitors Center tour several times before but the ranger who led the tour this particular morning was Danielle who incorporated food's role into New Orleans history, gave the tour a different slant so I gained new information that made the tour very interesting. For example, Danielle talked about how slaves made Callas cakes to sell on their Sundays off under the city's French Code Noir and saving the proceeds towards buying either their own freedom of that of family members - coincidentally, I had eaten Callas cakes for breakfast at The Old Coffee Pot the day before. Both the Visitors Center and the walking tour are well worth the time, particularly for first-time New Orleans visitors who want to learn a little bit about the history and development of the city but if you take the walking tour during the warmer months, it's advisable to bring a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated. read more

Good place to learn about New Orleans history and types of music. A few interactive displays. There was a table by the entrance with face masks to color, decorate, and cut out. They offer a 9:30 am free walkng tour but we never made it. Small gift shop. read more

This visitor center is very informative and well-organized. We stopped in for a moment to get some air conditioning and ended up learning a lot about the historical roots of New Orleans. Highly recommend. read more

We stopped in in the middle of our French quarter phantoms tour and asked for a map. Claire was not only helpful in getting us one, but also highlighted and labeled several locations on it. She was incredibly helpful! Make sure to ask for her if you ever stop in this particular visitor center!! read more

Great visitor center to get your orientation to South Louisiana. It shows the marvelous cultural and natural environment that makes up the region. It provides a good understanding as to the history of the music and foods and the fusion that has taken place as different cultures have come together in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Nice exhibits by the National Park Service along with a short video presentation. Friendly ranger staff. read more

If you are a history buff this is a must!! Tucked away in the French Quarter, the building has much of its original character from the 18th century because it is in one of the oldest protected historic districts in the nation. The park rangers and docents are EXTREMELY well versed and a wonderful way to learn about all things Louisiana - the swamps, rivers and bayous and the importance of the Mississippi River to the city of New Orleans. There is an extensive exhibition of the history and conflict that surrounded the founding and shaping of New Orleans. Loved it! read more

Great little gem outside the hustle and bustle:) This was a fun quick visit that had some good historical information on the building of New Orleans. It also has a nice garden area. This stop won't take too long, but it is neat. read more

Summary based on 1 visit: --good place to duck out of thunderstorms, though getting to the toilets from the main part of the building means getting soaked if it's raining hard --interesting exhibits --helpful staff read more

Hidden gem in New Orleans. Free tour at 9:30AM AND WELL WORTH IT! Great history of the city and all of the geographic implications of the location. Highly recommended! Not necessary to pay for a tour when this is an option! read more

Good overview of the city, its history, the various cultures that came together. Come and learn about the Creole, Dalmations, Spanish and more. Read about how they made a living here, how the celebrated and how the music evolved and came together. There are many multimedia exhibits including the citys sounds. You wont find this anywhere else. read more

If you're looking for an informative introduction to the French Quarter and New Orleans in general, the tours here are a good idea. Inside, there's an interactive history of the city, covering everything from food to music to politics. At 9:30 am, a park ranger leads a tour over to the Mississippi River and talks about the river and its role in New Orleans over the past several centuries. It wasn't as extensive a tour as I imagined it would be, but, unlike so many things in the French Quarter, it's free. If you're set on taking one of these tours, it's imperative to arrive early. We got there a little after 9:00, and a line had already formed. They only give tickets out to the first 25 people. read more