See & do · Museums
Backstreet Cultural Museum
Opening hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Images provided by Google Places
Small museum exploring New Orleans traditions, with exhibits on brass bands, jazz funerals & more.via Google
An invaluable, community-run museum documenting the history of Mardi Gras Indians, social aid and pleasure clubs, and jazz funerals.
- Good to know
- Small admission fee in the € band; cash preferred.
Reviews from Google
So much to see, quite a collection of memorabilia, historical info and many stunning Mardi Gras/Masked Indian suits. I visited on the Saturday, prior to Super Sunday, to get educated and primed for the Uptown Indian parade the next day. The knowledgeable folks at Backstreet provide a good intro/history and can answer any questions about the culture. There's a lot packed into these 2 floors. I spent nearly 2 hours studying and photographing everything. You could do it in half the time. Also rec'd you visit the Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes & Culture nearby.
They were so sweet and very knowledgeable! The museum has some amazing bead work to admire and the story of the suites are inspirational. Thank you for a nice experience and learning about the real history of New Orleans.
Stopped by and had a blast as they gave a training for Spy Boys. The rich cultural experience continued with the many amazing garments with such intricate beadwork. The dedication to your craft is simply incredible and I’m honored to have seen all of the displays. The real experience came as the festivities spilled out the door and into the street. The Spy Boys didn’t even care about traffic at the intersection. They had a job to do and didn’t care who was watching. You can’t put a price on an experience like this. We had an amazing time!!!
Absolutely loved this little gem of a museum. La La and the volunteer tour guide were a wealth of information about the history of Mardi Gras Indian, masking and baby doll cultures. Getting up close looks at the beautiful suits (emphatically NOT costumes) that are all individually hand made with so much creativity was the highlight of my travels.
Pricey but worth the money. We received a really helpful tour and explanation of the exhibits. They do a wonderful job in preserving a piece of local history that little is known about more widely.