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New Orleans, Orleans Parish / Museums

1850 House

An elegant antebellum row house on Jackson Square, offering a window into the prosperity and domestic life of mid-19th-century New Orleans.

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What is the 1850 House known for?

The 1850 House is an antebellum row house furnished to represent domestic life and upper-middle-class prosperity in mid-nineteenth-century New Orleans, rather than the home of a single family.

How much does it cost to visit?

Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, military, and students with ID, and free for children 6 and under.

What are the hours of the 1850 House?

The museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the last ticket sale at 3:30 p.m.

What can I see at the 1850 House?

The museum showcases furniture and decorative arts, including silver and porcelain.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

The 1850 House is an antebellum row house located at 523 St. Ann Street on Jackson Square in the French Quarter. This historic building is part of the Lower Pontalba Building, which was built in 1851 by Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba. It is the only Pontalba apartment open to the public, making it a unique opportunity to see the interior of these iconic townhouses. Unlike typical house museums, the 1850 House does not reconstruct the home of a single family. Instead, it serves as a window into the lives of the upper-middle-class residents of New Orleans during the mid-19th century, a period known as the most prosperous period in the city's history. The interior is faithfully furnished with domestic goods, decorative arts, and art of the period, including porcelain and silver. Managed by the Louisiana State Museum, the property was taken possession of in 1927 and opened to the public in 1948. Visitors can explore the domestic life of the mid-1800s, interpreting domestic life in the mid-19th century as a window into antebellum New Orleans. The site also hosts the 1850 House Museum Store, operated by the Friends of the Cabildo, which serves as the official gift shop for Louisiana State Museum properties in New Orleans.

Visitor tips

  • Plan your visit between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., but remember that the last ticket sale is at 3:30 p.m.
  • Adult admission is $8, while seniors, military, and students with ID are $6, and children 6 and under are free.
  • If you have limited mobility, note that while the full museum is not fully wheelchair accessible, the Museum Store, courtyard, and ground-floor exhibitions are accessible.
  • Consider joining a two-hour walking tour of the Vieux Carré offered by the Friends of the Cabildo.

Nearby context

The 1850 House is situated on the edge of Jackson Square, one of the most historic areas of the French Quarter, surrounded by the iconic Pontalba buildings that flank the square's same same side.

Sources

Evidence and links