New Orleans Jazz Museum, New Orleans, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The New Orleans Jazz Museum is a museum of jazz history housed in the Old U.S. Mint at 400 Esplanade Avenue, on the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans. The building is a landmark in its own right: it struck United States coins, then Confederate ones, and was the scene of one of the city's most notorious Civil War episodes.

The story behind it

New Orleans was one of the first American cities to have a branch of the U.S. Mint, which produced coins from 1838 to 1861. When the Civil War began, Confederate forces took the building over and the Mint turned out Confederate coinage for a short time.

In April 1862, Flag Officer David Farragut's ships sat in front of the city and the American flag was raised over the Mint, even though Union troops had not yet reached New Orleans. William Mumford pulled the flag down, and General Benjamin Butler had him arrested for treason. Despite protests, Mumford was hanged at the Mint. The building later returned to coin production, then served several other purposes before the state turned it into a museum in 1981. Today it preserves music as well as history, and concerts are held on its grounds.

What to look for

• Look at the star shapes on the exterior walls, which are not decoration but structural fixings that help hold the heavy building together.
• Take in the Greek Revival look of the facade, a reminder that this was built as a serious federal institution in the 1830s.
• Notice the flagstaff area in front of the building and picture the 1862 flag incident that ended in Mumford's execution.
• Check the grounds and the surrounding street for signs of upcoming concerts or festivals, since music still spills out of the building.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 20 minutes to look at the building from outside, and more if you go into the museum. Check current opening hours before you go.
• Daylight is best for seeing the details of the facade, while an evening visit pairs well with live music nearby.
• The Mint sits right by the French Quarter, so the French Market and the music clubs of Frenchmen Street are an easy walk away.
• Go inside if you have time, because the building itself is part of the story as much as the exhibits.

See it on a quest

The Hunt in 1862, New Orleans is a good way to meet the Mint, given the year in its name and the Civil War story tied to this building. You reach it on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Rhythm of New Orleans: Musical Mystery suits the Jazz Museum's musical side. You walk to the Mint as part of a self-guided route, hear about it when you get there, and work out a puzzle in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.