At 419 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park introduces the city’s music through exhibits, ranger programs and live performances. The visitor center has interactive displays with local music and dialect recordings, plus information on jazz and New Orleans culture. Free daytime concerts take place at the French Market visitor center or the nearby Old U.S. Mint concert hall; some include explanations of the music. Check the event calendar before you go, since performances and programs vary.
Exhibits and ranger programs
The visitor center at 419 Decatur Street has exhibits on jazz and New Orleans culture. Interactive displays let you listen to local music and dialects. Other displays cover civil rights, Indigenous groups, Hurricane Katrina, local celebrations and cuisine. A small theater shows films, and the center has a gift shop.
Rangers lead talks and demonstrations about the musical elements that shaped jazz, including gospel and blues. Some rangers are musicians, so programs can combine musical explanation with live performance. The center also has a Junior Ranger program for children.
Live music and walking tours
Free daytime concerts are held at the French Market visitor center or the nearby Old U.S. Mint concert hall. Some performances include talks about the music. Check the park’s event calendar for current program details before setting out.
The park also has free walking tours with audio narration. Stops include statues of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, and Congo Square in Armstrong Park. In the 18th and 19th centuries, enslaved people were permitted to gather there for African drumming, dancing and music.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park free?
The visitor center and the daytime concerts and audio-narrated walking tours described by the park are free.
Where can I hear live jazz at the park?
Free daytime concerts take place at the French Market visitor center or the nearby Old U.S. Mint concert hall. Check the event calendar for current performances.
What can you see at the visitor center?
The center has interactive displays about jazz, local music and dialects, as well as information on civil rights, Indigenous groups, Hurricane Katrina and local culture.
Does the park have a walking tour?
Yes. Free audio-narrated tours stop at jazz landmarks including statues of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, and Congo Square in Armstrong Park.
