The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience traces more than three hundred years of Jewish life across the American South, in the heart of New Orleans‘ Arts District. The museum only moved to this Howard Avenue location in 2021, having previously been based in Mississippi, so some older references may still describe its earlier home. You can book through Viator to secure your visit in advance.
Quick facts: Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
| Address | 818 Howard Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113 |
| Opening hours | Monday, Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm; closed Tuesdays |
| Admission | Adult (18–64) $15; Senior/Student/Military $13; Children (6–17) $10; under 6 free |
| Nearest transit | St. Charles and Canal streetcar lines |
| Typical visit | 1 to 1.5 hours |
Opening hours for the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
The Museum opens six days a week, from 10am to 5pm, and is closed every Tuesday. It also closes for several holidays, including New Year’s Day, Mardi Gras, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Ticket prices for the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
All prices are in US dollars.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (18–64) | $15 |
| Senior (65+), Student (with ID), or Active Military | $13 |
| Children (6–17) | $10 |
| Children under 6 | Free |
Groups of 10 or more qualify for a discounted rate. Online tickets aren’t tied to a specific date, so there’s no pressure to lock in a visit day in advance. Booking ahead is still a simple way to plan your trip, and you can book tickets in advance through Viator to have it sorted before you arrive.
Why book Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience tickets?
- 🏛️ Three hundred years of history: A story spanning thirteen Southern states, from the colonial era to today.
- 🎟️ Undated tickets: Buy now and pick your visit day later, no changes needed.
- 🌿 Over 4,000 artifacts: Judaica, letters, photographs, and household items rarely seen elsewhere.
- 📜 Free entry for under-6s: The youngest visitors join at no charge.
- 💰 Steps from the National WWII Museum: Easy to pair with the Arts District’s other major museums.
How to get to the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
By streetcar, the Museum is directly on the St. Charles and Canal streetcar lines, making it an easy stop by public transport. On foot, it’s within a few blocks of the National WWII Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, so it fits naturally into a walking day through the Arts District. By car, nearby public parking lots and metered street parking serve the area.
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- 🏛️ Whitney Plantation tour – Hear the true stories of slavery on a Whitney Plantation tour with transport from New Orleans.
Parking at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
Metered on-street parking is available on both sides of Howard Avenue and Carondelet Street, alongside nearby public parking lots.
How long to spend at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
A typical visit runs an hour to 90 minutes, enough time to see both the core exhibition and any current special exhibition.
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Accessibility at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
The entrance is at ground level, with tactile paving and contrast marking, and leads into a step-free, obstacle-free interior wide enough for wheelchair users throughout. The front desk is set at wheelchair height, and large-print information is available in the lobby.
What to see inside the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
The core exhibition spans thirteen Southern states and three hundred years, tracing Jewish communities from the colonial era through to the present day.
The Special Exhibition Gallery rotates regularly, hosting standalone exhibits on specific Southern Jewish communities, individuals, and ideas.
The collection, numbering more than 4,000 artifacts, includes Judaica, business records, photographs, letters, and household items gathered from Jewish families across the region.
The Chapman Family Research Center offers a hands-on space for genealogy and deeper research into Southern Jewish history, open the same days as the Museum.
Practical visitor tips for the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Don’t worry about locking in a date | Online tickets aren’t dated, so your plans can change without losing your ticket. |
| Buy at the door if you’d rather not plan ahead | Tickets are usually available with little to no wait at the front desk. |
| Combine with nearby museums | The National WWII Museum and Ogden Museum of Southern Art are both within a few blocks. |
| Visit the research center for family history | The Chapman Family Research Center is open the same days as the Museum, excluding Tuesdays. |
| Book ahead for a smooth visit | Advance booking is recommended; book through Viator to have your ticket ready. |
FAQ: Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the museum open every day? | No, it’s closed on Tuesdays and several holidays, including Mardi Gras and Yom Kippur. |
| Do I need to book tickets in advance? | Not necessarily; tickets are usually available at the door, and online tickets aren’t tied to a specific date. |
| How long does a visit take? | Most visitors spend an hour to 90 minutes here. |
| Is the museum accessible for wheelchair users? | Yes, the entrance is step-free and the interior is wide enough for wheelchair users throughout. |
| Are strollers allowed? | Yes, strollers are welcome throughout the Museum. |
Things to do near the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
The National WWII Museum, one of the country’s top-rated museums, is a short walk away in the same Arts District.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art showcases painting, sculpture, and photography from across the American South.
The Contemporary Arts Center hosts rotating exhibitions and performances a few blocks away.
The Southern Food & Beverage Museum explores the region’s culinary history, an easy pairing with a nearby lunch.
Confederate Memorial Hall, one of the city’s oldest museum buildings, is within the same walkable stretch of the Arts District.
What to visit tomorrow: more Southern Jewish heritage sites
Sites dedicated to this specific history are rare outside New Orleans, so this list reaches a little further afield. Temple B’nai Israel, in Natchez, Mississippi, is around 2.5 to 3 hours away and holds the distinction of being the oldest Jewish congregation in the state, housed in a striking 1905 synagogue building. It was also where the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience itself was founded, before later relocating to New Orleans.
More New Orleans travel
Other New Orleans travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- The Old Ursuline Convent in New Orleans: Visitor guide with hours, prices and history.
- Discover tales of slavery in the antebellum South at the Hermann-Grima House.
- Planning your trip to the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
- See the costumes and floats in progress at Mardi Gras World.
- Learn about Louisiana’s history at The Cabildo.
