BK House & Gardens is a restored 1826 mansion in the French Quarter, telling nearly 200 years of New Orleans history through the diverse families and individuals who called it home.
Theis guide was updated in August 2026. Worth knowing before you search: the museum has officially rebranded from its longtime name, “Beauregard-Keyes House,” to “BK House & Gardens” — many established guides, including Wikipedia’s own article and Viator’s separate attraction listing, still use the older name. You can book your tour in advance through Viator.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1113 Chartres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116 |
| Hours | Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat, tours 10am, 11am, and hourly 1pm–3pm |
| Closed | Wednesdays and Sundays |
| Adult admission | $15.00 |
| Children under 6 | Free |
| Nearest transport | French Quarter, walkable from most Quarter hotels |
| Typical visit duration | About 45 minutes, guided tour only |
Why book BK House tickets?
- 🏛️ Nearly 200 years of French Quarter history: Told through the many families and individuals, not just its two namesakes, who lived here.
- 🎟️ A recent rebrand: Now officially “BK House & Gardens,” though many guides still use the older “Beauregard-Keyes House” name.
- 🌿 A restored 19th-century parterre garden: Alongside the original slave quarters, later Frances Parkinson Keyes’s 1950s writing studio.
- 📜 Birthplace of a chess prodigy: Paul Morphy, world chess champion before age 20, was born here in 1837.
- 💰 Free for under-6s: Children aged five and under always visit at no charge.
BK House opening hours
Tours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, on the hour at 10am and 11am, and then hourly from 1pm to 3pm. The site is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. Each tour lasts about 45 minutes. Reservations aren’t required for daily tours, but are happily accepted.
5 great experiences in New Orleans to book today
- 🎷 Steamboat Natchez jazz cruise – Go for a jazz cruise aboard the Steamboat Natchez.
- 🍤 French Quarter food tour – Take a French Quarter food tour and discover Louisiana’s distinctive Cajun and Creole cuisine.
- 🐊 Swamp and bayou boat tour – Enjoy a swamp and bayou boat tour with a quieter boat for better wildlife sightings.
- 👻 New Orleans’ dark side – On a tour of New Orleans’ dark side, uncover ghosts, vampires, crime and voodoo.
- 🏛️ Whitney Plantation tour – Hear the true stories of slavery on a Whitney Plantation tour with transport from New Orleans.
BK House ticket prices
As with many other historic house museums in the US, such as the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site in Buffalo, New York, and the Jennie Wade House in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, every visit is by guided tour only.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | $15.00 |
| Senior Citizen | $12.50 |
| Student | $12.50 |
| Military | $10.00 |
| Children 12 and under | $7.50 |
| Children under 6 | Free |
Pre-scheduled group tours are available for parties of 25 or more, at $7.50 per person; contact the house directly to arrange one. Book in advance through Viator to secure your preferred tour time.
How to get to the BK House
The house sits at 1113 Chartres Street in the French Quarter, directly across from the Old Ursuline Convent, and is an easy walk from most Quarter hotels and Jackson Square.
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- 🐊 Cajun Swamp & Bayou Tours: Journey out into the mystical Louisiana wetlands on a guided boat tour to spot wild alligators, native birds, and moss-draped cypress trees up close.
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Parking at the BK House
Street parking in the French Quarter is limited and metered; most visitors walk, take a rideshare, or use one of the paid parking garages near the riverfront.
How long to spend at the BK House
The guided tour itself runs about 45 minutes.
Accessibility at the BK House
As a historic 1826 home, the BK House includes stairs and uneven period flooring typical of its age. Guests with specific accessibility needs are encouraged to contact the house directly ahead of their visit to plan accordingly.
What to see at the BK House
The main house, built in 1826 as a raised center-hall villa, blends Creole and American architectural details across its restored rooms.
The period parterre garden, restored to its mid-19th-century appearance, sits alongside a courtyard and several dependency buildings.
The original 19th-century slave quarters, a four-room dwelling behind the courtyard, later became author Frances Parkinson Keyes’s writing studio in the 1950s, where she wrote Madame Castel’s Lodger, a novel set in the house itself and featuring General Beauregard as a character.
The tour also covers the story of Paul Morphy, the 19th-century chess prodigy and world champion born in the house in 1837, grandson of its first owner, auctioneer Joseph LeCarpentier.
Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard’s postwar residence at the house rounds out the tour’s coverage of its many chapters of New Orleans history.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book ahead for popular time slots | Reservations aren’t required but are recommended, especially for the last tour of the day. |
| Plan around the closures | The house is shut both Wednesdays and Sundays. |
| Note the name change if searching online | Some sites still list this attraction as “Beauregard-Keyes House.” |
| Ask about the slave quarters exhibit | The tour addresses the site’s full history, not just its two famous namesakes. |
| Book ahead for large groups | Groups of 25 or more should contact the house directly for the discounted rate. |
BK House FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the opening hours? | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday–Saturday, tours at 10am, 11am, and hourly 1–3pm; closed Wednesdays and Sundays. |
| How much does admission cost? | $15 for adults, $12.50 for seniors and students, $10 for military, $7.50 for children 12 and under; free under 6. |
| Is this the same as the “Beauregard-Keyes House”? | Yes — the official name is now “BK House & Gardens,” though many guides still use the older name. |
| How long is the tour? | About 45 minutes, and visits are by guided tour only. |
| Do I need a reservation? | Not required, though reservations are happily accepted, especially for busier time slots. |
Things to do near the BK House
The Old Ursuline Convent, directly across the street, is the oldest surviving building in the Mississippi Valley and one of the few French colonial structures left in the city.
Gallier House, about a 10-minute walk away, offers a contrasting look at a later, Victorian-era French Quarter home.
The Hermann-Grima House, also close by, showcases an earlier Federal-style residence with its own working 19th-century courtyard kitchen.
Jackson Square, a short walk toward the river, anchors the French Quarter with street performers, artists, and the St. Louis Cathedral.
The French Market, along the riverfront, has served as a marketplace since the late 18th century.
What to visit tomorrow
The 1850 House, in the Pontalba Buildings on Jackson Square, offers a self-guided look at a mid-19th-century middle-class New Orleans household, run by the Louisiana State Museum.
Pitot House, on Bayou St. John about 20 to 25 minutes away, is the only Creole colonial-style house museum left in New Orleans, offering a different architectural era from the French Quarter’s later townhomes.
Degas House, on Esplanade Avenue about 15 minutes away, was the temporary home of Impressionist painter Edgar Degas during his 1872-73 stay with his mother’s Creole family.
More Louisiana travel
I’ve written a guide to the best New Orleans tours to take. Other Louisiana travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to know before visiting St Joseph Plantation, Felicity Plantation and Laura Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana.
- See the costumes and floats in progress at Mardi Gras World.
- Learn about Louisiana’s history at The Cabildo.
- Plan your visit to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans.
- Practical guide to visiting Audubon Zoo in New Orleans.
