Free Museum Days in New Orleans

The New Orleans Historic Collection offers a choice of historic tours in its buildings with the Smithsonian Free Museum Day tickets.

It's worth noting that the gallery exhibitions are ALWAYS FREE, any day of the week, as the Historic New Orleans Collection. It is one of the least known and best freebies in New Orleans.

These Royal Street exhibitions are consistently first class glimpses into various aspects of the history, art, and culture of New Orleans. Check in when you are in the French Quarter because the exhibition changes often.

There is usually a fee for the building tours. Although not a Smithsonian Day option, there is usually a Halloween season tour that includes French Quarter ghost stories.For a fee, The Historic New Orleans Collections also has an Annex on Chartres Street that houses the extensive Williams Research Center.

The Bestoff Sculpture Garden in City Park at the New Orleans Museum of Art is free every day of every week.

It's a first class outdoor sculpture garden. The beautiful trails along the bayou would be well worth a visit even if there were no sculptures. The variety of artwork in the garden would be worth a visit without the perfect atmosphere and walk. 

Every WEDNESDAY of every week, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) in City Park, is free to Louisiana residents with valid ID, thanks to the Helis Foundation. In the past you may remember showing your drivers license when free entry was limited to Louisiana residents. But now, Wedesdays are free for everyone including tourists from anywhere. There's no check-in - Just walk in and soak up the art.

NOMA was once called Delgado Museum of Art. It shared the same benefactor as what has become Delgado Community College. Delgado students with an ID can visit NOMA anytime on any day for Free. As of this writing, that also goes for University of New Orleans (UNO)students. Check with NOMA about free entry for other local college students

The Contemporary Art Center (CAC), one of the several museums at the foot of Camp Street in the Warehouse District has FREE entry to Louisiana residents on all SUNDAYS.

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, nicknamed The "O", offers FREE admission to Louisiana residents, who show proof with a valid I.D., every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. thanks to the The Helis Foundation. Children under age 5 get in free on any day.

The Ogden is also free (except for special events) for University of New Orleans (UNO) Students, Faculty, and Staff (who show a current I.D.)

It's only fitting that U.S. World War II Veterans now have free admittance to The National World War II Museum in New Orleans at any time.

On some military-related holidays, the museum offers free admittance to all U.S. Veterans, so check the website if you are planning a visit.

Also check the website for the wide variety of events at the World War II Museum complex, including many free seminars, activities, and other events.

Free Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day is a nationwide event every September when a variety of museums across the United States - not just Smithsonians - offer free admission with a ticket obtained via the promotion's website. In addition to the New Orleans museum participants, there are nearby plantations and museums that would make a perfect day trip.