Things to do in New Orleans – Visit the Historic New Orleans Collection

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For an in-depth look at the history, culture, and architecture of New Orleans, consider visiting The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC). Founded in 1966 by General and Mrs. Kemper Williams, the Historic New Orleans Collection, consisting of the Royal Street complex and the HNOC Research Center, features several different historical properties and an impressive and informational collection of archive documents, historical items, and paintings.

Courtyard View Historic New Orleans Collection

Historic New Orleans Collection Courtyard

The Royal Street complex consists of three courtyards and seven buildings clustered together in the heart of the French Quarter. These historical and architectural treasures include:

 Entrance Historic New Orleans Collection

The Merieult House – built in the late-18th century for wealthy merchant Jean François Merieult, this two-story structure serves as the main entrance for your visit to the HNOC Royal Street complex. Subsequent owners of this historic residence have included Theodore Danflous, a saddle maker; Jean Baptiste Trapolin, who established the Royal House Hotel on the site in 1878; and General and Mrs. Williams who purchased the home in 1938.

Historic New Orleans Collection Exhibit

The Merieult House currently houses the Louisiana History Galleries, containing permanent and rotating exhibits of items from the collection. Tours of the Louisiana History Galleries are Self-Guided and admission is FREE. Items from the extensive collection of antique furniture, paintings, historical artifacts, and archival documents, are displayed in rotation. Some of what you might see includes:

Paintings and portraits, such as:

Painting of Creole in Red Headdress Historic New Orleans Collection

Creole in Red Headdress -Jacques Guillaume Lucien Amans, ca. 1840; 

Painting of the Battle of New Orleans Historic New Orleans Collection

Battle of New Orleans – Dennis Malone Carter, 1856;

Exhibit Historic New Orleans Collection

Major General Andrew Jackson – Samuel Lovett Waldo, 1819;

Portrait of Andrew Jackson Historic New Orleans Collection

A19th century Harpers Ferry Musket of the Louisiana Militia’s 1st Regiment (believed to have been used during Battle of New Orleans);

Map of North and South America Historic New Orleans Collection

18th century illustrated maps of Louisiana and North and South America;

Original Louisiana Purchase Documents Historic New Orleans Collection

Original documents pertaining to the transfer of Louisiana from Spain to France and the Louisiana Purchase in 1803;

British Powder Horn Historic New Orleans Collection

A British powder horn with scrimshaw etchings of the Battle of New Orleans, c. 1814;

Copy of the Code Noir Historic New Orleans Collection

and a copy of the Code Noir.

The Portrait Gallery Historic New Orleans Collection

The Counting House – originally built as a single story warehouse for Jean François Merieult in the late 18th century, this two story structure was renovated and enlarged in the mid-19th century for the Lizardi Brothers of Cuba, commission merchants/international bankers who operated their banking business on the site. The building’s Greek Revival interior features Ionic columns, decorative cornices, an intricate sunflower ceiling medallion, as well as a ventilation grate and bricks from an earlier French colonial structure that occupied this site.

Portraits in the Counting Room Historic New Orleans Collection

The Counting House currently houses the Portrait Gallery, which presents such works as:

Portrait of Olivier and Maspero Family Historic New Orleans Collection

Portrait of Emma Olivier, Olivia Olivier, and Zulmé Maspero – Jean-Baptiste Ange Tissier, 1851

Portrait of Clara de la Motte Historic New Orleans Collection

Portrait of Clara de la Motte – José Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza, ca. 1795

The Williams Residence Historic New Orleans Collection

The Williams Residence – this two story Italianate townhouse built in the late 19th century for Jean Baptiste Trapolin on the former site of Jean Merieult’s warehouse and stables, served as a WPA art gallery in the 1930s and as the private residence of General and Mrs. Kemper Williams from 1946 until 1964. The residence faces a courtyard and features elegant iron railings along the galleries.

The Williams Residence Parlor Historic New Orleans Collection

The Williams Residence Dining Room Historic New Orleans Collection

The interior, open to the public for guided tours, is decorated with the Williamses’ family photographs, mementoes, and original mid-20th century furnishings.  

Other buildings in the complex are:

The Maisonette – situated across the courtyard from the Counting House this three-story 18th century ‘little house’ rebuilt in the early 19th century served as guest accommodations for the former Royal House Hotel and currently serves as HNOC staff offices. 

Townhouse Historic New Orleans Collection

The Townhouse – this late-19th century American Townhouse, on the former Merieult property and situated adjacent to the Williams Residence courtyard, served previously as commercial space and a banking house.  Today The Townhouse houses HNOC staff offices.

Louis Adam House Historic New Orleans Collection

The Louis Adam House – located across the courtyard from The Townhouse, this late-18th century two-story Creole Townhouse constructed for property owner Louis Adam served for a time as a boarding house and temporary residence of playwright Tennessee Williams. The building now serves as the HNOC marketing and publications department.

Creole Cottage Historic New Orleans Collection

The Creole Cottage – this quaint 19th century double cottage located adjacent to the Louis Adam house is situated on the site of the 18th century French barracks. Previously owned by Thomy Lafon, a 19th century Creole businessman and philanthropist, and subsequently by the Society of the Holy Family, the cottage today is used by the HNOC exhibition preparation department.

Getting there:

The Historic New Orleans Collection’s main property is located at 533 Royal Street, a 5-minute walk from Jackson Square.

Ticket Info

Adult Admission (Merieult House/Louisiana History Galleries) = FREE; Self-Guided Visit

The HNOC offers various Docent Guided Tours of The Collection and they’re very reasonably priced.   The tours available during our visit were:

The Williams Residence: Adult Admission = $5.00

Architecture/Courtyards: Adult Admission = $5.00

For details and additional tour options, visit the HNOC website.

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