Things to do – The Cabildo

Things to do – The Cabildo.

When you’re looking for things to do in New Orleans, the first place to go is The Cabildo. It’s on the corner of Pirates Alley and Jackson Square. You can’t miss it. The structure was built between 1795 and 1799. The building itself is a giant piece of history. The Cabildo was the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies late in 1803 and continued to be used by the New Orleans city council until the mid-1850s. It then became the headquarters of the Louisiana State Supreme Court, where the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson decision was heard. The building was transferred to the Louisiana State Museum in 1908 and has since served to educate the public about Louisiana history. The building’s remarkable past is reason enough to visit, but the historical treasures and lessons within make it a must-see in New Orleans.

The Cabildo is one of the top things to do in New Orleans and also houses many rare artifacts of America’s history. Among them is Napoleon’s death mast, one of only four in existence. You’ll also see Jordan Noble’s drum. Noble was a young enslaved drummer famous for beating the long drumroll at the Battle of New Orleans. Near the entrance is a Spanish Cannon used by Pirates during the Battle of New Orleans. The amazing artifacts and interactive displays tell the story of Louisiana and its place in American history.

You can spend a lot of time in there learning the entire history of New Orleans. From the early days of Bienville to the Battle of New Orleans, the Civil War and more. Spend an hour or two here learning and soaking up the air conditioning. Don’t miss the view of Jackson Square from the second floor. We’ve visited it numerous times and that’s why we put it at the top of our list of things to do in New Orleans. We highly recommend you visit the Cabildo before you start drinking too much rum.

-The Captain & Quarter Master