How to Enjoy New Orleans Museum Month (as a tourist) ?

Art & Architecture (A Favorite Combo)

Architecture and Art, Buildings and Murals...I think I would say that is one of my favorite combos when walking around exploring a city and discovering it!

New Orleans...is a definitely happening place...but what can you do when your a tourist and want to explore but it's a little too hot for outside activities?

Don't get me wrong...I love warm weather and heat... but sometimes you just don't want to sweat it out… :)

If you happen to be in NOLA late August, past the exciting beginning of the month events and festivals (Like White Linen Night & Satchmo Summer Fest) You actually still have the rest of the month to enjoy Museum month: A month of free admission to 18 Participating Museums for those who have an annual New Orleans museum membership)
(Mobile readers note: Article Best viewed in Landscape mode)

Museum Month List & My Museum Membership to The Historic New Orleans Collection

So how can an out-of-towner enjoy Museum Month… here's how I was able to visit 6 museums, a value of $90 for $35 …(mind you at the time of writing this was my calculation and could have saved more in the process if I had time to visit more museums…and planned ahead better)

Plan beforehand:

what you would like to see (if all of them, then map things out)

Find your Muse...

(or Muses) by checking out the participating museums and see if they fit your flavor/preference

Feel free to use my map with info on museum schedule; admission price & other info (this was helpful in visiting the one's closest to each other) (see the embedded map & feel free to make a copy)

Pick a PARTICIPATING museum...and get an annual membership

I would look into seeing if you can get one before your trip. I waited until I got there to find out and got one 2 days already into mine, while at a museum that offers free admission already…(but I felt I was contributing to the arts so it was ok & convenient to get it from them)

At time of writing, I was told the Ashé Cultural Arts Center Annual Membership was $25 (I was too far away to go get it as I was staying near the French Quarter at the time…)

Scheduling & Planning for your visit:

Things to Consider:

A lot of the Museums close early so schedule accordingly
Consider and double check for days Museums might be closed
Consider days some might be open late as some are
How long you want to spend at each: At The WWII Museum, for example, Google says people spend an average of 4 hours...I spent about a whole day (but was able to take an hour out to visit the other 3 museums in walking distance from it)
Also, some museums participating are tour only and on the hour...Like the Beauregard-Keyes House; Hermann-Grima House

Final Tips/Don't Miss/I Wish I knew & For Next Time:

So if you find yourself in NOLA in August wanting to stay the cool person that you are Museum Month is a great way too to do while out and about exploring the Crescent City;

Don't Miss:

I really enjoyed The National WWII Museum They also have a 4D Imax movie for $7;

Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium: You can try some free samples of bug recipes in the cafeteria; and enjoy viewing the live ones while actively doing their insect things

Wish I knew:

I could get an annual membership as a tourist before my trip

Next Time:

If I'm in NOLA again sometime in the month of August...I will try and do a museum crawl with my handy map

I didn't get a chance to take advantage of coolinary month so I'd want to do that also

There is also a restaurant week if you're taking it Big Easy in September...

So I hope you get to enjoy New Orleans any time of the year... it's an awesome place...but should you find yourself one August in the crescent city...I hope you'll find this helpful in exploring these interior gems.

Some other highlights:

If the weather is above 95F the next day museums are free for local residents and you just may enjoy some of the summer perks like I did: Free bottled water, Fans, Sunglasses, & Snoballs… yummy!