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New Orleans, Orleans Parish / Museums

Backstreet Cultural Museum

A community-driven museum dedicated to the vibrant African American parading traditions of New Orleans, featuring costumes, artifacts, and the lifelong collection of founder Sylvester Francis.

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Backstreet Cultural Museum
backstreetmuseum.org, og_image_backstreetmuseum.org

What is the Backstreet Cultural Museum known for?

The museum is a showplace for artifacts of New Orleans' African American parading traditions, housing costumes, memorabilia, photographs, and films. Its collections focus on living folklife traditions such as jazz funerals, Mardi Gras Indians, Baby Dolls, Skull and Bone gangs, and social aid and pleasure clubs.

What are the hours of the Backstreet Cultural Museum?

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

How much does it cost to visit?

General admission for adults is $25. Seniors, students, veterans, locals, and museum staff are $20, while children ages 12–16 are $15, ages 6–12 are $10, and children ages 0–5 are free.

Does the museum offer guided tours?

Yes, the museum provides guided tours for school field trips, groups, and individual visitors.

What payment methods are accepted?

The museum accepts both cash and credit cards.

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 Backstreet Cultural Museum is a dedicated showplace for the African American parading traditions of New Orleans. Officially opening its doors in 1999, the museum was established by Sylvester Francis, a longtime documenter of the city's unique cultural expressions. While the museum officially opened in 1999, its origins trace back three decades prior to when Francis began participating in and collecting artifacts from these traditions. Inside, visitors find a rich collection of costumes, memorabilia, photographs, and films. The exhibits focus on living folklife traditions, including the intricate masks and suits of the Mardi Gras Indians, the Skull and Bone gangs, Baby Dolls, and the ceremonial rhythms of jazz funerals and social aid and pleasure clubs. These materials provide a deep dive into the community-based processions that define the city's spirit. The museum has faced significant challenges, including the damage caused by Hurricane Ida in late August 2021, which forced a temporary closure. In July 2022, the museum moved to its current location at 1531 St. Philip Street, a few blocks away from its previous site. This move ensured the preservation of the the same community-focused mission to educate wider audiences about parading culture. Today, the museum serves as a base of activity for the cultural community, offering public programming intended to strengthen neighborhood spirit. Through guided tours for individuals, groups, and school field trips, the institution continues to represent the very community-based masking traditions it documents.

Visitor tips

  • Visit Tuesday through Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., as the museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
  • Adult admission is $25, but discounts are available for seniors, locals, veterans, and students at $20.
  • Be mindful that videos are prohibited inside the museum, though limited photography is allowed.
  • Credit cards and cash are accepted, though optional tips and donations are appreciated.

Nearby context

Located on St. Philip Street, the museum is situated within a neighborhood that embodies the spirit of the community-based processions it documents, placing it just a few blocks from where it originally operated before its 2022 move.

Sources

Evidence and links