The essential museum of Black New Orleans culture and tradition. Mardi Gras Indian suits (beaded and feathered masterpieces that take a year to create), second line parade artifacts, jazz funeral memorabilia, and Baby Doll costumes. Founded by photographer Sylvester Francis in 1999, now run by his daughter Dominique. The only museum dedicated to these cultural practices.
Location
Tremé, New Orleans
Map
Insider Intel
Take your time with the Mardi Gras Indian suits — the beadwork and craftsmanship represent hundreds of hours of work renewed every year. Ask staff about the traditions if they are available; this is a community museum with deep roots. The second line section explains the social aid and pleasure club tradition that defines New Orleans street culture.
Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm (verify hours before visiting). Mardi Gras Day brings visits from actual Mardi Gras Indian tribes. If you visit on a Sunday during second line season (September-May), you can see these traditions in action on the streets of Tremé.
Founded in 1999 by Sylvester Francis, a photographer who documented these traditions for decades. NOTE: The museum relocated after Hurricane Ida damage to its original location at 1116 Henriette Delille St — verify the current address before visiting, as the museum may have moved to a new permanent home. The Mardi Gras Indian tradition dates to the late 19th century, with Black New Orleanians honoring Native American communities who sheltered enslaved people. Second lines are the brass band parades that follow social aid and pleasure clubs. This museum preserves cultural practices that mainstream tourism often misses entirely.