New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park
New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park
New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park and nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Neighborhood: French Quarter
A small and teeming network of laissez-faire living lounged out on the balmy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the French Quarter has long been a port of call for folks in search of a good time and a great story. Perpetually inebriated Bourbon Street runs across its midriff like a strand of cheap ribbon tied around an otherwise rather pretty and impressively well-kept vintage dress. Throughout the rest of the Quarter, brightly colored Victorian homes and businesses, famously done up with wrought-iron features, provide a distinct and immediately recognizable backdrop for all varieties of fun. At any given moment in this historic riverside setting, some of America’s finest meals are being cooked, most potent cocktails are being mixed, and most engaging music is being performed.
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,489 within 3 miles
Attractions
633 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
196 reviews
Excellent
114
Very good
51
Average
22
Poor
8
Terrible
1
egland95
Peoria, IL164 contributions
May 2022
Love our National Park Service! Completed Junior Ranger booklets, got our passport stamps, and listened to a ranger talk. The Ranger talk was about the history of the second line parades. He also played drums and explained some of the rhythms. Very educational. This visitor's center is on Decatur in the French Quarter, so it is easy to get to staying near downtown. The site itself is small, but the programs they host are mighty. Make sure to check out their calendar for jazz music performances there and at the nearby Jazz Museum
Written June 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bigal632018
Coupar Angus, UK76 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
Came across this place by accident but what a find. My wife and I were heading to the French market when a guide stopped us and suggested we go into this place. A jazz band was just about to start playing and in we went. What a great afternoon. A history lesson in jazz music with some great musicians playing pure jazz. Fabulous experience and one not to be missed. Was such a pleasure and privilege meeting these musicians who had such a wealth of knowledge and insight into jazz music. Make sure you visit this place and plan your visit around the events which are free to attend. Wonderful afternoon and atmosphere.
Written September 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phvi2617
Anaheim, CA735 contributions
Jan 2020
This is really not so much a park as it is a small visitor center. And while there is a gift shop, there are unfortunately no real exhibits that you might expect from an NPS visitor center.
However, the good news is that this "park" hosts a number of excellent free performances and ranger talks at this location and at the NOLA Jazz Museum down the street. Be sure to check the website to see what events are coming up.
However, the good news is that this "park" hosts a number of excellent free performances and ranger talks at this location and at the NOLA Jazz Museum down the street. Be sure to check the website to see what events are coming up.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ilene B
Hurricane, UT59 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
We stumbled into this National Park (which is really just a small, unassuming building away from the crowds of the French Quarter) by chance. There are some interesting thing here but the real gem was that there was a jazz concert starting soon in another building - a concert headed up by a park ranger! Who has ever heard of that? Anyway, not only was it nice to get into the air-conditioning of the old U S Mint building but the 1 hour concert was fun and informative. The musicians were very good and seemed to be volunteers with the one park ranger leading way. They gave you a good sense of the history of the music (as much as you can do in 1 hour) by way of playing the appropriate music. It was really nice - I hope they continue it and those of you visiting New Orleans will support it. Oh, and it's FREE!
Written June 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HTvlr16
United States65 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
This National Park Services site in the French Quarter offers free jazz performances several times per week. Stop in for a schedule at 916 N Peters. Some performances are also offered in a performance area in the nearby Old U.S. Mint. In addition, there are free ranger led tours of historic areas. A great deal for jazz lovers!
Written March 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bucsuz
Quebec City, Canada72 contributions
Oct 2019
Stopped by the Jazz Historical Park after a self guided tour of the French Quarter. Through out the day they have a variety of lectures and concerts that are FREE and very worth while. We started at 11:00 with a lecture on the history of New Orleans Jazz by a Park Ranger (he has several music degrees). At noon there was a jazz pianist with a voice similar to Louis Armstrong. He played a number of tunes and styles while also explains some history. Break for lunch and then back at 2:00 pm for a trio, they were awesome. Nice to not be in a bar or a street corner to hear some exceptional music. Check out their website for the weekly schedule.
Written October 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Southpass_TN
Bakersfield, CA69 contributions
Mar 2016
This little National Park is tucked away behind the French Market. The park rangers are very talented musicians, and have jazz programs almost every afternoon...either at this location or at the Mint just down the street. The programs are free and a welcome respite from some of the craziness around town. I am so glad to have found this gem, and stopped by every afternoon to hear programs and lectures/jazz. Search for this and stop by. I'm happy my tax dollars are at work at this venue.
Written March 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaurainSilverthorne
Silverthorne, CO632 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
This Historic Park is basically a visitors' center - but it's what they do with it that matters! We went on the Ranger Walk about the history of jazz. It is a one-hour walk through the French Marker area. The ranger shared wonderful stories about the history of music in New Orleans. She included audio recordings of the music. This tour was one of the best things we did during our week in New Orleans.
The funny thing is, while the tour visits several stops around the French Market, the sites really have little to do with the content of the tour. It's just a way of getting folks outside, seeing more of the Market area, instead of sitting in the lecture hall. The information could be shared with a slideshow in the lecture hall, but it's much more engaging as a tour!
Make sure you show up at least 15 minutes in advance of the tour. They only take 25 people and you have to sign up for the tour (although it was clear that they fudge it a little and let a couple extra folks tag along). During busy season you should stop at the visitor center in advance of the tour you want to do so that you can sign up.
Make sure you check the schedule for other performances. I wish we had taken advantage of some of the free music performances at the visitor center or at the old mint building. Next time.
The funny thing is, while the tour visits several stops around the French Market, the sites really have little to do with the content of the tour. It's just a way of getting folks outside, seeing more of the Market area, instead of sitting in the lecture hall. The information could be shared with a slideshow in the lecture hall, but it's much more engaging as a tour!
Make sure you show up at least 15 minutes in advance of the tour. They only take 25 people and you have to sign up for the tour (although it was clear that they fudge it a little and let a couple extra folks tag along). During busy season you should stop at the visitor center in advance of the tour you want to do so that you can sign up.
Make sure you check the schedule for other performances. I wish we had taken advantage of some of the free music performances at the visitor center or at the old mint building. Next time.
Written November 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robcurtross
New York City, NY13,420 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
The Service has a practical problem; they cannot move south of a certain area because they will compete with the commercial guides. But, they work within those constraints in a wonderful way.
There is a shop, of course, a pretty garden, tours of the waterfront with very knowledgeable guides -- a great introduction to New Orleans -- but the small auditorium in the back is home to some wonderful sounds.
There are a large number of concerts, all well advertised on their website, but worth stopping by without checking -- you may uncover a treasure. We did -- and the kids and the adults were as much fun as the singers.
Makes paying my Federal taxes almost a pleasure.
There is a shop, of course, a pretty garden, tours of the waterfront with very knowledgeable guides -- a great introduction to New Orleans -- but the small auditorium in the back is home to some wonderful sounds.
There are a large number of concerts, all well advertised on their website, but worth stopping by without checking -- you may uncover a treasure. We did -- and the kids and the adults were as much fun as the singers.
Makes paying my Federal taxes almost a pleasure.
Written October 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
57girl
Tomball, TX2 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
If you want to gain an insight into the musical culture of NOLA this is the place to go. Located on the second and third floors of the old mint building lies a very complete venue depicting the history of jazz plus small daily presentations about jazz music. It was a bit difficult to find, but the park service office located in the French Market just behind Cafe DuMonde was extremely friendly and helpful. An extra bonus was walking through the Market to get to the mint building. You actually come out of the Market into the back of the mint building, but just hang left and go around the block to the other side. Again, the park service was extremely helpful once inside, and if you are into money, the first floor is all about it. If you are there for the music, go up to the second floor. The day we were there they had a wonderful display about Preservation Hall and the men and women who played there. We also heard a great presentation about jazz funeral bands and the second line. Later that day as we stood in line outside Preservation Hall we realized what a "hidden gem" this is as others we talked to had no idea what we were talking about. Check it out the next time you're in town. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Written July 13, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What time is the free afternoon concert today?
Written March 28, 2019
Pathfinder259187
Massapequa Park, New York
The schedule is available on the park’s website. (Links are not allowed in answers.)
Written October 31, 2019
It is free to go to the historical park.
Written February 2, 2019
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Related Stories
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing