New Orleans, Orleans Parish story
A Museum on the Move
The Backstreet Cultural Museum is a treasure trove of New Orleans' masking and processional traditions, from the vibrant Mardi Gras Indians to the Skull and Bone gangs. For years,…
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The Backstreet Cultural Museum is a treasure trove of New Orleans' masking and processional traditions, from the vibrant Mardi Gras Indians to the Skull and Bone gangs. For years, it stood at 1116 St. Claude Street, acting as a neighborhood cultural library for the community.
However, the risks of living in the Gulf South are ever-present. In August 2021, Hurricane Ida struck, causing significant damage to the museum's original home. To protect the invaluable collection of costumes and artifacts, the museum had to relocate.
By July 2022, it found a new sanctuary at 1531 St. Philip Street. The move was a rescue mission, ensuring that the city's living folklife traditions wouldn't be washed away by the next big storm.
Updated June 2026