Join us at the Shop at the Collection for a book signing with Betsy Golden Kellem, author of Jumping Through Hoops: Performing Gender in the 19th Century Circus. Kellem’s book explores the unusual performing women of the nineteenth century—wire-walkers, bearded ladies, strongwomen, conjoined twins, and more—and how these extraordinary outliers used their variable bodies to shape …
Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans continues to learn and teach powerful lessons in equity and urban planning. Over the past two decades, city residents have wondered who the urban planning process is designed to benefit and who makes the final decisions on the master plan. At this year’s Morrison Lecture, nationally renowned urban planner David …
As a nod to Southern Decadence, New Orleans’s largest city-wide LGBTQ celebration, join us for a special book signing with gay activist Larry Bagneris, author of the heartfelt memoir Call Me Larry: A Creole Man’s Triumph over Racism and Homophobia. Admission is free and open to the public. Copies of Call Me Larry will be for sale at …
HNOC Chess Club blends the game of chess with creative activities and historical research. Members learn about the rich history of chess in New Orleans from the 19th century to the present day. HNOC Chess Club is youth-led. Members in the 6th–12th grades are given the opportunity to plan HNOC’s annual Chess Fest, where we …
Our after hours celebration returns with an exploration of Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans, presented in collaboration with One Book One New Orleans! We are excited to partner with One Book One New Orleans (OBONO), a local nonprofit that encourages literacy and builds community around a single book title each year. Their 2025 book, Daughters of …
Museum lovers of all ages are invited to a special Family Day celebrating The Trail They Blazed, HNOC’s exhibition about the Civil Rights Movement in New Orleans. Presented in collaboration with Young Audiences of Louisiana (YALA), this free event will feature story times, live music, hands-on activities, gallery talks, and exciting surprises from special guests! Admission is free and open …
Join us at the Shop at the Collection for a special Halloween-themed book signing with Rosary O’Neill, PhD, and Rory O’Neill Schmitt, PhD, authors of The Haunted Guide to New Orleans. The book explores New Orleans’s history and cultural heritage through its ghost stories, exploring legendary locations such as Commander’s Palace, Hotel Monteleone, and Lafayette Cemetery, while …
Mayhaw berries—small, tart fruit referred to as les cenelles—are known for their robust hardiness. Armed with this symbolism, the fruit has inspired three centuries of cultural and literary resistance: From the 1845 anthology Les Cenelles: Choix de poésies indigènes and the mid-20th century Les Cenelles Society of Arts and Letters, to today’s Les Cenelles ensemble. Join the Les Cenelles ensemble—Denise …
Educators are invited to a free workshop, hosted by our education department, that will help deepen student experiences and understanding of the Civil Rights Movement in New Orleans through HNOC’s exhibition The Trail They Blazed. The workshop is open to educators of all grade levels and subject areas. The schedule of activities includes modeling and demonstrating …
Join HNOC and the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana for an evening honoring the legacy of the Daughters of Bilitis, a lesbian social and civil rights organization. The program will include an archival show-and-tell of newly acquired objects from the organization, followed by a conversation featuring Sharon Dauzat, former director of the New Orleans Daughters of …
Registration opens September 8, 2025. Subscribe to our email list for updates about this and similar programs! In conjunction with Family History Month, HNOC is excited to host a special workshop to help members of our community organize family records so that they can be researched and preserved for future generations. Professional genealogist Marguerite Scully, HNOC family …
Chess lovers of all ages are invited to the fourth annual Chess Fest, presented by HNOC's Chess Club! Each year, Chess Fest participants enjoy the opportunity to craft DIY chessboards, play chess puzzle games, move as “human chess pieces” on a giant chessboard, join a friendly fast-chess tournament, and more. Whether you’re already an experienced …
Chess lovers of all ages are invited to the fourth annual Chess Fest, presented by HNOC's Chess Club! Each year, Chess Fest participants enjoy the opportunity to craft DIY chessboards, play chess puzzle games, move as “human chess pieces” on a giant chessboard, join a friendly fast-chess tournament, and more. Whether you’re already an experienced …
You’re invited to celebrate the culinary traditions and unmatched hospitality that make home gatherings in Louisiana special—from backyard seafood boils to elegant dinner parties. With the help of local chefs and historians, the 2025 Food Forum will dive deep into the state’s welcoming spirit, blending cultural insights with practical tips for hosting unforgettable, joy-filled gatherings. …
Taste the Best of Louisiana :You are invited to “come pass a good time” at Food Fête—the official tasting event of HNOC’s 2025 Food Forum! Hosted at 520 Royal Street and featuring an open bar, this is your chance to experience Louisiana’s take on home cooking and cocktails by top New Orleans chefs and mixologists. Admission …
The Captive State: Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration book will be featured at several upcoming events including Morris Bart Sr. Lecture Series. Visit hnoc.org for the latest information. As part of the Morris Bart Sr. Lecture Series at the New Orleans JCC, editor Nick Weldon will give a lecture about Captive State followed by a Q&A session and …
Enjoy extended hours at the museum as we celebrate the opening of New Orleans Musicians in Art, HNOC’s new exhibition featuring gems from our permanent collection. The Diego Benjamin Delgado Quartet will provide a musical backdrop for the evening while artist Emilie Rhys draws the event live. Rhys, the daughter of artist Noel Rockmore—whose iconic paintings of …
HNOC is excited to present a rare solo recital featuring visiting scholar and organist Dr. Joyce Wei-Jo Chen, who will perform on HNOC’s restored Aeolian residence organ located in the Barbara S. Beckman Music Room at 520 Royal Street. Dr. Chen will perform works by French composers—including François Couperin, Louis Vierne, and others—that showcase the …
Join us for HNOC’s annual Holiday Market celebrating local artists and makers! Browse wares by more than a dozen local vendors in our historic French Quarter courtyard, while enjoying live music by the New Orleans Jazz Vipers. HNOC members will receive complimentary mimosas and gift wrapping during our member appreciation hours from 9:30 to 11:30 …
To mark the 65th anniversary of school desegregation in New Orleans, the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Historic New Orleans Collection will copresent a screening of The Problem We All Live With: Truth Telling and Storytelling. The film recounts the experiences of the New Orleans Four—Ruby Bridges, Gail Etienne, Tessie Prevost, and Leona Tate—whose first steps …
