The Historic New Orleans Collection (Williams Research Center) — Attraction in New Orleans

If you're researching anything contained in The Historic New Orleans Collection, you're in for an absolute treat when you come to the reading room. The folks here are friendly, helpful, and absolutely know their collection. If they don't know about what you're working on, they get up to speed fast and work hard to help you find anything and everything they have. It is a reading room, so no pens, no bags, no food. But it is an absolute pleasure of a room, utterly beautiful, peaceful, and one of the most pleasant working environments I've ever had the joy to use. There are some public exhibitions in this space as well as the by-appointment reading room, so if you've got people interested in what you're doing but not enough to sit for 7 hours as you pour over documents, they can get a taste. I'm delighted that this is going to be my main haunt as I move into the dissertation phase, and feel quite privileged to have this gorgeous space, fine collection, and outstanding staff as...

Wow! This place was amazing. So many things to see. Staff was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly.

The exhibits were varied. Culture, history, struggles. It was handicapped accessible, diverse and amazingly free when we were there in August.

We had some of the hottest and most humid weather so the museum was a needed refuge.

There was also an outdoor Cafe and a gift shop on the premises. The cafes food was quite good and gift shop offered a variety of things, including some sale items.

Overall a fabulous experience. It's worth the...

What a treasure! The Williams Research Center is an amazing archive with friendly and helpful staff. We've learned so much about the history of the region and our ancestors. If you are interested in the German Coast, Cajuns, a specific parish, this is a great place to spend a day or more.

I recommend you go to the archive with clear goals of regions or people you want to know more about - otherwise there are so many interesting resources it can be overwhelming.

If you don't have family from the region, check out the free Museum on...