Wednesday, June 10, 2015

The Presbytère in NOLA

Recently, Frugal Family Travelers took a trip to New Orleans. Our main purpose for visiting the city was to hear a concert at the St. Louis Cathedral. The cathedral alone is a great reason to visit the city, especially for those who have never gazed upon the beautiful spires that tower over the landscape of the French Quarter. However, our inner desire to explore and discover a new Frugal Family adventure led us to the Presbytère. Adjacent to the cathedral, the Presbytère is part of the Louisiana State Museum which also runs the 1850 House, Cabildo and other historic sites, some of which we have explored and shared on our blog. The Presbytère is home to two exhibits depicting two very different aspects of Louisiana history and culture. On the bottom floor visitors are immersed in the story of hurricane Katrina. This exhibit was especially engaging for our children who have heard all of the stories about Katrina from family and friends over the years but were too young to remember it. With news footage and interactive exhibits, the children were able to see exactly what the City of New Orleans and surrounding parishes endured during those trying times. It also does a good job of showcasing the pride and resilience of the people who stayed and who are continuing their efforts to rebuild the city. We brought our children, ages 11, 9 and 7 and found the exhibit to be very realistic without being too frightening for them.

On a lighter note, the second floor of the museum immerses visitors in the carnival traditions. From floats, costumes, historic throws, jewelry and artifacts, one can get lost in the evolution of Mardi Gras as we know it today.

Our Frugal Family Travelers certainly enjoyed their visit!

Cost:
Adults - $6; Students, senior citizens, active military - $5

Tips:

Follow the links below to discover other places nearby. Combine one of the following with your trip to the Presbytère for a full day of adventure! Consider having some beignets at Cafe du Monde which is in walking distance of the Presbytère or relax in the nearby Latrobe Park (see pictures below).

1850 House
Travel Itineraries by State: See New Orleans Options

Directions:

Presbytère - Louisiana State Museum

751 Chartres St

New Orleans, LA 70116

View FrugalFamilyTravelers' photos on Trover

Disclaimer:

All content provided on Frugal Family Travelers blog is for informational purposes only. The owners of this blog make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owners of Frugal Family Travelers blog do not share personal information with third-parties and are not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without permission. As with all travel, operating days, times, costs, etc., should be verified prior to departure.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Consider Visiting the 1850 House

Our recent Frugal Family adventure found us in New Orleans admiring the spires of the St. Louis Cathedral while in route to the 1850 House. Just inside the historic Jackson Square, the 1850 House represents the oldest example of apartment living in the United States. The "row houses" were built to serve as sumptuous residences on the two upper floors with retail spaces on the ground level. The house is furnished with period pieces that depict 19th century living. One can discover stories of those who lived here and of the Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, who was responsible for building the upper and lower Pontalba buildings which flank the square. Our Frugal Family Travelers enjoyed this adventure and the stop to Cafe du Monde for beignets. The best part about this adventure is it didn't break the bank!!

When planning your trip here consider the links listed in the "tips" section below which suggest other offerings nearby.

Cost: Admission: Adults - $3; Seniors - $2; Children 12 and under - FREE, (No Reservations Necessary)

Hours of Operation: Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-4:30 p.m.

Tips: Consider pairing this with some of the other nearby NOLA adventures on our blog to create more adventures for your Frugal Family Travelers:

1. Historic New Orleans Collection and other area museums.
2. Pack a lunch and visit Crescent Park after your visit to the 1850 House.

Directions: (click address to see Google Map)

523 St. Ann St.Lower Pontalba Bldg., Jackson Square