New Orleans Museum of Art

Overview

NOMA houses a permanent collection of nearly 40,000 works spanning French and American art, photography, glass, and Japanese paintings. Located in City Park since 1911, it is the oldest fine arts museum in the city.

Highlights

• French Art Collection: One of the finest outside France, with works from the 18th–19th centuries.
• Photography Gallery: Over 10,000 photographs from pioneers to contemporary artists.
• Adjacent Sculpture Garden: The Besthoff Sculpture Garden is free and right next door.

History

Founded in 1910 with a donation from Isaac Delgado, the museum was originally called the Delgado Museum of Art. It was renamed in 1971 and has undergone multiple expansions.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Free admission on Wednesdays for Louisiana residents.
• Tip 2: Combine with a walk through City Park and the Sculpture Garden.
• Duration: 2–3 hours.