Guide dated 18/08/2024
What The Historic New Orleans Collection is
The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) is a cultural and historical institution in the French Quarter, dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Established in 1966 by General L. Kemper Williams and his wife, Leila Hardie Moore Williams, it includes museum exhibitions, research facilities, historic buildings, educational programs, and a publishing program (Wikipedia).
Its properties include the Spanish Colonial Merieult House, the Williams Research Center, and other historic buildings. THNOC’s exhibitions and facilities offer free admission (THNOC).
History
Founding and development
General L. Kemper Williams and Leila Hardie Moore Williams were avid collectors of Louisiana-related artifacts. They established THNOC to preserve and make their historical materials accessible, and created a foundation bearing their names to support the institution’s continuity (Wikipedia).
In 1938, the Williamses purchased two French Quarter properties: the Spanish Colonial Merieult House on Royal Street and a late 19th-century residence on Toulouse Street. Dating back to the 18th century, the Merieult House now serves as the collection’s main entrance and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Wikipedia).
The Williams Research Center (WRC) opened in 1996 in a restored Beaux Arts building on Chartres Street. It holds over 30,000 library items, more than two miles of documents and manuscripts, and over 500,000 photographs, prints, drawings, and paintings. Its annex was completed in 2007 and was the first new construction in the French Quarter since Hurricane Katrina (Wikipedia).
Collections, buildings, and cultural work
THNOC acquired the largest private collection of Tennessee Williams materials in 2001 from collector Fred Todd, making it a resource for researchers and enthusiasts of the playwright’s work (Wikipedia).
The Merieult House, the Seignouret-Brulatour Building, and the Italianate brick townhouse that was the Williamses’ residence have all been meticulously restored. Together, these structures illustrate the architectural evolution of New Orleans (THNOC).
The institution offers guided and self-guided tours, educational programs, and special exhibitions. Its French Quarter Tours app provides themed walking tours exploring the neighborhood’s architecture, literature, music, and the history of free people of color (New Orleans).
THNOC also publishes award-winning books and the Historic New Orleans Collection Quarterly, covering the region’s history, culture, music, and art (Tatted Nomad).
What to see
THNOC buildings and displays
Visitors can explore the institution’s historic buildings and exhibitions. The Welcome Center includes an interactive smart table that maps properties in the French Quarter and provides historical, architectural, legal, and sociological data (Tatted Nomad).
THNOC’s special exhibitions and events address subjects ranging from the city’s colonial past to its musical legacy and celebrate Louisiana’s culture and history (THNOC).
Exhibitions and events listed for 2024
The Trail They Blazed
This traveling exhibition was developed by THNOC with speakers and community members who participated in the local Civil Rights movement. It honors those who fought for freedom and civil rights in New Orleans and includes oral histories from Civil Rights pioneers Leona Tate, Malik Rahim, and Doratha “Dodie” Smith-Simmons. It was scheduled to be on display at the Main Library until August 23, 2024, and at the Library’s REACH Center from December 2024 through March 2025 (source).
A Vanishing Bounty: Louisiana’s Coastal Environment and Culture
Opening June 21, 2024, this exhibition explores the region’s natural abundance and threats to its welfare. Through images, objects, and interactive multimedia installations, visitors can experience the beauty and utility of cypress forests, learn about coastal peoples and their adaptations, and see wildlife inhabiting the region’s land, air, and water (source).
New Lives for Old Things: Refashioning Southern Material Culture
The 2024 New Orleans Antiques Forum, held August 8–11, 2024, discussed the long lives of objects in historic practices and current concepts. Sessions addressed why objects are given second lives—including cultural heritage, economic necessity, and sustainability—and the skills required for adaptive reuse. The forum highlighted the Gulf South’s heritage of skillful creativity and the endurance of antiques and heirlooms (source).
Elements of a Home: Curious Histories behind Everyday Household Objects
Part of the 2024 New Orleans Antiques Forum, this exhibition explored the histories of everyday household objects. Curated by material culture historian Amy Azzarito, it considered stories such as the evolution of the fork and the development of door knobs, inviting visitors to reconsider objects in their domestic sphere (source).
The Endurance of Antiques and Heirlooms
Also part of the 2024 New Orleans Antiques Forum, this exhibition explored why objects are given second lives, including cultural heritage, economic necessity, and sustainability. It examined the skills involved in adaptive reuse, including craft techniques and creative repair methods, and highlighted the Gulf South’s heritage of skillful creativity and the endurance of antiques and heirlooms (source).
Louisiana Contemporary 2024
Presented by The Helis Foundation, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s annual juried exhibition features contemporary artists from across the state. Juror Lauren Haynes selected 41 works by 37 artists from over 1,000 submissions. The exhibition was scheduled to be on view from August 3 to October 13, 2024 (source).
Bringing Africa to Mardi Gras
This exhibit at the TEP Center in the Lower Ninth Ward features animal skin drums and African print outfits of Mandio Warrior drummers from 1994 to 2004. Artifacts and supplemental photographs tell how Cowrie Shells came to New Orleans and became part of the Black Masking Indian tradition. The exhibit can be viewed Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting August 3, 2024 (source).
Hunt Slonem: A Retrospective
On view through September 30, 2024, at The Cabildo, this retrospective considers how New Orleans influenced Slonem’s iconic work. His paintings feature intensely colorful subjects, often suspended in antique frames. The exhibition explores his connection with New Orleans and the impact of its exotic mystique on his artistic vision (source).
The Beauty and History of Louisiana’s Natural Environment
This interactive exhibition explores the beauty and history of Louisiana’s natural environment and threats posed by human habitation. It also examines institutions of slavery and mass incarceration and how these connections have made Louisiana the world leader in incarceration today (source).
Celebrating the Life & Work of Chuck Siler: Memorial & Exhibition
This exhibit at Ashé Cultural Arts Center honors Baba Chuck Siler’s life, times, and commitment to Black institutions. It was on display from May 25 to June 15, 2024 (source).
11th Annual HBCU Art Showcase
On view at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art from May 29 to September 29, 2024, this showcase spotlights student artists at Dillard University and Xavier University of Louisiana. It features paintings, metal casting, ceramics, and mixed media, providing a platform for young students of color to share their voice (source).
Sand, Ash, Heat: Glass at the New Orleans Museum of Art
This exhibition looks at the more than 4,000-year history of glass around the world and its intersections with scientific discoveries, foodways, and artistic innovations. It includes ceramics, pottery, glassware, furniture, and a chandelier. It was scheduled to be on view from August 30, 2024, to February 10, 2025 (source).
Rebellious Spirits: Prohibition and Resistance in the South
This New Orleans Museum of Art exhibition explores the history of Prohibition and resistance in the South. It includes photographs by Carla J. Williams and draws on the museum’s collection across genres and disciplines (source).
Called to the Camera: Black American Studio Photographers
This ongoing exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art showcases Black American studio photographers and explores their history and impact on the art world and their communities (source).
The Orléans Collection
On view at the New Orleans Museum of Art, this exhibition presents 40 European masterpieces from the collection of the city’s namesake, Philippe II, Duc d’Orléans. It sheds new light on human creativity, ingenuity, and artistic achievement across time periods and cultures (source).
East of the Mississippi: Nineteenth Century American Landscape Photography
This New Orleans Museum of Art exhibition focuses on nineteenth-century American landscape photography and explores the history and impact of the photographs (source).
Changing Course: Reflections on New Orleans Histories
This exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art features seven contemporary art projects that reimagine stories from New Orleans’ past and explores the history and impact of those stories (source).
Ancestors of Congo Square: AfricanArt in the New Orleans Museum of Art
This New Orleans Museum of Art exhibition showcases African art and its influence on New Orleans culture, exploring the history and impact of African art on the city (source).
Practical visiting information
Admission and hours
Admission to all THNOC exhibitions and facilities is free.
The main museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Williams Research Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Check THNOC’s official website for current hours and special closures (THNOC).
Accessibility
THNOC’s facilities are wheelchair accessible, and staff are trained to assist visitors with disabilities. Guide dogs and service animals are welcome. For more information, visitors can contact THNOC directly or visit its official website (THNOC).
The institution also provides clean and accessible spaces, on-site dining, and shopping options (Tatted Nomad).
Renovation
In 2023, THNOC began a renovation project to improve the Merieult House. During the renovation, most displays from the house were temporarily moved to the French Quarter Galleries at 520 Royal Street (Tatted Nomad).
Tips
THNOC offers guided tours that provide insights into its collections and New Orleans history; tours can be booked in advance through its website. Its courtyards and historic buildings are also photographic spots.
The French Quarter Tours app offers themed walks covering the neighborhood’s architecture, literature, music, and history of free people of color (New Orleans).
Nearby places
THNOC is in the heart of the French Quarter and is accessible by public transportation, with numerous parking options nearby. Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and the Cabildo are nearby historical sites. The French Market and Café du Monde are also within walking distance.
FAQ
What are the visiting hours for The Historic New Orleans Collection?
The main museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Williams Research Center operates Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
How much are tickets for THNOC?
Admission to all exhibitions and facilities at THNOC is free of charge.
Are guided tours available at THNOC?
Yes. Guided tours can be booked in advance through THNOC’s website.
Is THNOC accessible for visitors with disabilities?
Yes. THNOC is wheelchair accessible, staff are trained to assist visitors with disabilities, and guide dogs and service animals are welcome.
