Tour operator
New Orleans Steamboat Company
The riverboat operator behind the Steamboat Natchez, running daytime and evening jazz cruises on the Mississippi from the Toulouse Street dock in the French Quarter.
Friends of the Cabildo French Quarter Walking Tour
Two-hour French Quarter history walks led by volunteer guides from Friends of the Cabildo, starting daily from the 1850 House on Jackson Square.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic walking tour
- Area
- French Quarter, New Orleans, United States
- Official site
- friendsofthecabildo.org
Good to know
- Daily tours
- Two hours
- Volunteer guides
- Supports the Louisiana State Museum
Why we recommend it
Friends of the Cabildo is a private, non-profit volunteer organisation that has supported the Louisiana State Museum since 1956, and its French Quarter Walking Tour is one of the most straightforward ways to understand the history of the old city. The tours are led by volunteer guides, and the money raised supports the museum, its projects and its historic properties, including the Cabildo on Jackson Square.
The French Quarter Walking Tour is a general history walk through the Vieux Carré. It covers the story of the Quarter from its colonial beginnings through its later history, pointing out the architecture, streets and buildings along the way. It is a good introduction at the start of a trip, as it helps put the museums, churches and houses you will see later into context.
Tours run every day at 10.30am and 1.30pm and last about two hours. They begin at the 1850 House on Jackson Square, and the 1850 House Museum Store is at 523 St Ann Street. Tickets are booked online through Peek, linked from the Friends of the Cabildo website, and booking ahead is sensible at busy times of year. The organisation also runs a weekly Garden District tour, special and group tours, and an events calendar of concerts, neighbourhood tours and talks.
The tour suits first-time visitors, history lovers, solo travellers and families with older children who are happy to walk for two hours. Wear comfortable shoes and, in the warmer months, bring water, sunscreen and a hat, as much of the walk is outdoors. The morning tour is the cooler option in summer.
Taking the tour also supports the work of the Louisiana State Museum, which looks after several of the French Quarter's most important historic buildings.
Because the tour starts on Jackson Square, it combines naturally with a visit to the Cabildo, St Louis Cathedral or the Presbytère before or afterwards, and with lunch in the French Quarter. The organisation's office is at 400 North Peters Street, Suite 210, and it can be contacted by phone for group or special tours. If you enjoy the experience, Friends of the Cabildo also recruits and trains volunteer guides through its own programme.
Friends of the Cabildo French Quarter Walking Tour FAQs
When does the Friends of the Cabildo walking tour run?
Daily at 10.30am and 1.30pm.
How long is the tour?
About two hours.
Where does the tour start?
At the 1850 House on Jackson Square. The 1850 House Museum Store is at 523 St Ann Street.
How do I book?
Online through Peek, linked from the Friends of the Cabildo website.
Who leads the tours?
Volunteer guides from Friends of the Cabildo.
Are there other tours?
Yes. There is a weekly Garden District tour as well as special and group tours.
Who does the tour support?
Friends of the Cabildo is a non-profit that has supported the Louisiana State Museum since 1956.