Top 50 Museums in Louisiana - Complete List, Map & Guide

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: July 10, 2026

New Orleans carries most of Louisiana's museum weight, and almost all of it sits within the French Quarter or a short streetcar ride away. The Louisiana State Museum alone runs five historic French Quarter buildings — the Cabildo and Presbytère flanking St. Louis Cathedral among them — while the National WWII Museum, designated the country's official WWII museum by Congress, draws visitors from well outside the state.

Louisiana Museums Map

The Louisiana Museums Map highlights the locations of museums across the state, including art museums, history museums, science centers, and cultural heritage institutions. Use this interactive map to explore popular museums in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and other destinations throughout Louisiana.

Here's an expanded list of Louisiana's museums, heavily weighted toward New Orleans with strong additions from Baton Rouge and Shreveport.

List of Museums in Louisiana

Museum Name City Category Admission Best For Official Website
The National WWII MuseumNew OrleansMilitaryPaidWorld War II historyhttps://www.nationalww2museum.org
New Orleans Museum of ArtNew OrleansArtPaidFine art collectionshttps://noma.org
Ogden Museum of Southern ArtNew OrleansArtPaidSouthern arthttps://ogdenmuseum.org
The CabildoNew OrleansHistoryPaidLouisiana Purchase historyhttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
The PresbytèreNew OrleansHistoryPaidMardi Gras & Hurricane Katrina exhibitshttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
New Orleans Jazz MuseumNew OrleansMusicPaidJazz heritagehttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
1850 House MuseumNew OrleansHistoric HousePaidFrench Quarter historyhttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
Historic New Orleans CollectionNew OrleansHistoryFreeNew Orleans historyhttps://www.hnoc.org
Mardi Gras WorldNew OrleansCulturePaidMardi Gras floatshttps://www.mardigrasworld.com
Backstreet Cultural MuseumNew OrleansCulturePaidMardi Gras Indian traditionshttps://www.backstreetmuseum.org
Southern Food & Beverage MuseumNew OrleansFoodPaidSouthern culinary historyhttps://www.southernfood.org
Museum of the Southern Jewish ExperienceNew OrleansHistoryPaidSouthern Jewish heritagehttps://www.msje.org
New Orleans Pharmacy MuseumNew OrleansMedicalPaidHistoric pharmacyhttps://pharmacymuseum.org
Louisiana Children's MuseumNew OrleansChildrenPaidInteractive learninghttps://lcm.org
Louisiana Civil Rights MuseumNew OrleansHistoryPaidCivil rights historyhttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
LSU Museum of ArtBaton RougeArtPaidRegional & international arthttps://www.lsumoa.org
Capitol Park MuseumBaton RougeHistoryPaidLouisiana historyhttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
USS Kidd Veterans MuseumBaton RougeMilitaryPaidHistoric destroyerhttps://www.usskidd.com
LSU Rural Life MuseumBaton RougeHistoryPaidRural Louisiana heritagehttps://www.lsu.edu/rurallife
Knock Knock Children's MuseumBaton RougeChildrenPaidHands-on exhibitshttps://knockknockmuseum.org
Louisiana Art & Science MuseumBaton RougeSciencePaidPlanetarium & science exhibitshttps://www.lasm.org
Old State CapitolBaton RougeHistoryFreeHistoric capitol buildinghttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
Acadiana Center for the ArtsLafayetteArtPaidVisual & performing artshttps://acadianacenterforthearts.org
Vermilionville Living History MuseumLafayetteLiving HistoryPaidCajun & Creole heritagehttps://bayouvermiliondistrict.org
Hilliard Art MuseumLafayetteArtPaidLouisiana & global arthttps://hilliardmuseum.org
Alexandre Mouton House MuseumLafayetteHistoric HousePaidAntebellum historyhttps://www.lafayettetravel.com
Acadian MuseumErathHistoryPaidAcadian culturehttps://acadianmuseum.com
R.W. Norton Art GalleryShreveportArtFreeAmerican & European arthttps://www.rwnaf.org
Louisiana State Exhibit MuseumShreveportHistoryFreeLouisiana heritagehttps://www.sos.la.gov/museums
Shreveport Water Works MuseumShreveportIndustrialPaidHistoric waterworkshttps://www.waterworksmuseum.org
Spring Street Historical MuseumShreveportHistoryPaidLocal historyhttps://springstreetmuseum.org
Louisiana State Oil & Gas MuseumOil CityIndustryPaidOil industry historyhttps://www.sos.la.gov/museums
Louisiana Political Museum & Hall of FameWinnfieldPoliticsPaidPolitical historyhttps://lpmhf.org
Chennault Aviation & Military MuseumMonroeAviationPaidMilitary aviationhttps://chennaultmuseum.org
Biedenharn Museum & GardensMonroeHistoric HousePaidCoca-Cola history & gardenshttps://www.bmuseum.org
Masur Museum of ArtMonroeArtFreeContemporary arthttps://www.masurmuseum.org
Louisiana Military MuseumRustonMilitaryPaidMilitary artifactshttps://www.louisianamilitarymuseum.org
Delta Music MuseumFerridayMusicPaidLouisiana music legendshttps://www.sos.la.gov/museums
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History MuseumNatchitochesSports & HistoryPaidSports legends & regional historyhttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic SiteNatchitochesHistoryPaidFrench colonial forthttps://www.crt.state.la.us
Kent Plantation HouseAlexandriaHistoric HousePaidCreole plantation historyhttps://kenthouse.org
Alexandria Museum of ArtAlexandriaArtPaidContemporary arthttps://themuseum.org
Arna Bontemps African American MuseumAlexandriaHistoryFreeAfrican American culturehttps://arna.org
Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill MuseumPattersonAviationPaidAviation & lumber historyhttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
E.D. White Historic SiteThibodauxHistoric HousePaidGovernor & Supreme Court historyhttps://louisianastatemuseum.org
West Baton Rouge MuseumPort AllenHistoryFreeRegional heritagehttps://westbatonrougemuseum.org
Imperial Calcasieu MuseumLake CharlesArt & HistoryPaidSouthwest Louisiana culturehttps://imperialcalcasieumuseum.org
Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial CalcasieuLake CharlesCulturePaidMardi Gras traditionshttps://www.visitlakecharles.org
DeQuincy Railroad MuseumDeQuincyRailroadPaidRailroad heritagehttps://www.dequincyrailroadmuseum.com
Germantown Colony MuseumMindenHistoryPaidHistoric communal settlementhttps://www.sos.la.gov/museums

Louisiana Museums Facts

Fact Details
StateLouisiana
Approximate Number of MuseumsMore than 300 museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions
Largest Art MuseumNew Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans
Most Visited MuseumThe National WWII Museum, New Orleans
Largest Science MuseumLouisiana Art & Science Museum, Baton Rouge
Most Popular Military MuseumThe National WWII Museum, New Orleans
Largest History MuseumLouisiana State Museum System
Official State History MuseumLouisiana State Museum, New Orleans
Most Popular Art MuseumNew Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans
Popular Free MuseumsHistoric New Orleans Collection, R.W. Norton Art Gallery, Masur Museum of Art, West Baton Rouge Museum
Largest Museum DistrictFrench Quarter Museum District, New Orleans
Major Museum CitiesNew Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, Monroe
Popular Museum CategoriesHistory, Art, Military, Music, Science, Aviation, Living History, Children's Museums
Historic Landmark MuseumThe Cabildo, New Orleans
Best Time to VisitSpring (February–April) and Fall (October–November) offer the most comfortable weather for museum visits.
Top Family MuseumsThe National WWII Museum, Louisiana Children's Museum, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Knock Knock Children's Museum
Presidential MuseumsLouisiana does not have a U.S. Presidential Library or Presidential Museum.
Specialty MuseumsThe National WWII Museum, Mardi Gras World, New Orleans Jazz Museum, Southern Food & Beverage Museum, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum
Annual Museum VisitorsLouisiana museums attract millions of visitors every year.
Top Museum RegionsGreater New Orleans, Capital Region, Acadiana, North Louisiana, Central Louisiana
US Museums by State

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