Attraction
The National WWII Museum
A large campus of pavilions in the Warehouse District telling the American story of the Second World War, with restored aircraft, immersive films and a submarine…
The Cabildo
The Spanish colonial government building beside St Louis Cathedral, where the Louisiana Purchase transfer took place in 1803, now a Louisiana State Museum of history.
At a glance
- Type
- History museum
- Area
- French Quarter, New Orleans, United States
- Official site
- louisianastatemuseum.org
Good to know
- Lift to all floors
- Text guides in four languages
- Café
- Multi-museum discount
Why we recommend it
The Cabildo stands to the left of St Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square and is one of the most important historic buildings in Louisiana. It was built between 1795 and 1799, under Spanish rule, to replace an earlier building lost in the Great Fire of 1788, and it was designed by Gilberto Guillemard. In 1803 it was the setting for the ceremonies that transferred Louisiana to the United States after the Louisiana Purchase.
The building's later history is just as significant. It served as the seat of the city government until 1853 and then as the home of the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the Plessy v. Ferguson case began here in 1892. It has belonged to the Louisiana State Museum since 1908. A serious fire in 1988 damaged the upper floors, and after restoration it reopened in 1994.
The galleries trace Louisiana history over several floors. Permanent displays include The Battle of New Orleans and People and Power, about the building itself and those who used it. Temporary exhibitions in 2026 and 2027 include Gálvez and Louisiana in the American Revolution, running until May 2027, and Bienvenue Lafayette, about the Marquis de Lafayette and Louisiana, with Sportsman's Paradise opening in November 2026. The museum suits adults and older children with an interest in history; allow around an hour and a half.
The Cabildo is usually open daily from 9am to 4pm, with the last ticket sold at 3.30pm, but it closes on Mondays during the summer season and on some state holidays, so check before visiting. Children aged six and under go free, and there are reductions for seniors, students and military visitors. If you buy tickets for more than one Louisiana State Museum site at the same time on site, each additional ticket is discounted, which makes it easy to pair the Cabildo with the Presbytère next door.
The building is fully wheelchair accessible, with a lift to every floor, and text guides are available in English, French, Spanish and Vietnamese. A café runs a limited-time residency inside from Thursday to Sunday. Step outside and you are on Jackson Square, with the cathedral next door.
The Cabildo FAQs
When is the Cabildo open?
Usually daily from 9am to 4pm, with the last ticket at 3.30pm. It closes on Mondays in summer and on some state holidays.
What happened at the Cabildo?
The ceremonies transferring Louisiana to the United States after the Louisiana Purchase took place here in 1803.
Is there a discount for visiting more than one museum?
Yes. Additional Louisiana State Museum tickets bought at the same time on site are discounted.
Do children pay?
Children aged six and under go free.
Is the Cabildo accessible?
Yes. It is fully wheelchair accessible, with a lift to each floor.
Are guides available in other languages?
Text guides are available in English, French, Spanish and Vietnamese on request.
How long should I allow?
About an hour and a half for the galleries.