Cabildo in New Orleans, LA was originally built to house the city council of the city in the late 1700s when the area was still owned by Spain. Today, you can witness the stately grandeur of this building which serves as the cornerstone of the Louisiana State Museum. For the casual tourist, it is a great way to get a glimpse of New Orleans history; however for history buffs, you will despair of having enough time to get through the entire building. Cabildo is chockfull of fascinating history and detail and worthy of a second visit while you are in town to adequately capture the true essence of the area's history.
Located within the
French Quarter in
Jackson Square on Chartres Street, the Cabildo is open Tuesdays through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Of course, as this is a state museum, you can count on legal holidays to close it down. However, that still leaves plenty of time for you to browse through the comprehensive exhibits such as those that depict the Civil War or even Europe's influence on the city. With its prime location in the
French Quarter and even the
St. Louis Cathedral, you can craft a sightseeing day totally devoted to history.
You can guide yourself throughout the Cabildo for just $6 for adults, quite a bargain considering all that this museum has to offer. They are even wheelchair accessible should you require this type of accommodation. You will find that this main museum in the Louisiana State Museum group has a motley collection of unusual displays and oddities in addition to the more traditional exhibits. You will be amazed by all the history that has shaped the area into what it is today.
