by Marcia Wall at http://www.411nola.com
New Orleans is home to over 40 museums. In them, you can discover a world of fine art, history, Mardi Gras, and much more. Many of these museums are world-famous, such as the The National World War II Museum, and some, such as the Backstreet Cultural Museum, are known only to locals and to lovers of New Orleans culture. Some of our best museums are not even included in the New Orleans Museum website, nor is the insider info on area museums widely known.
The Louisiana Children’s Museum is sponsoring two of its own free days in October. On October 1, 2011 from 6:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. take the whole family to this children’s paradise as part of Arts for Arts Sake. There will be lots of special events and exhibits that your young ones will love. On October 16 from noon to 4:30 p. m., the whole family gets in free again courtesy of Target. No special tickets needed. Just walk in! The Louisiana Children’s Museum is located at 420 Julia St. in the Warehouse District.
Two other museums also offer free entrance to their institutions on a regular basis. World War II veterans and active duty members of the U. S. military who are in uniform get in free to The National World War II Museum every day of the year. Every Thursday from 10:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m., residents of Louisiana get in free to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art with valid identification.
Another major museum offers a year-round freebie. Each Wednesday, from 10:00 a. m to 5:00 p. m. everyone gets in free to the New Orleans Museum of Art courtesy of The Helis Foundation. If you have a current ID for Loyola, Tulane, Nunez Community College, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Our Lady of Holy Cross, UNO, Delgado or Xavier, you always get in free to New Orleans Museum of Art because these universities pay to be members. This offer is good for faculty, staff, and students of these educational institutions. Just bring your current school ID to get in.
Another NOMA freebie: Home to over sixty sculptures from artists from all over the world and set in a stunning environment of meandering footpaths, The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is open seven days a week from 10 a. m. to 4:45 p. m. and ’til 8:45 p. m. on Fridays. Admission is always free of charge!
Here’s two other great deals: 1) Free membership is available to the New Orleans Museum of Art and to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas for students who are part of the Taylor Scholars program. Click here to see if your child might qualify. 2) Now through October 2, 2011, area residents get 1/2 off admission to the zoo and to other Audubon attractions. That’s like “buy one get one free”! Click here for details.
New Orleans must love freebies because, believe it or not, there are four museums that never charge for admission.
The Diboll Gallery at Loyola University never has an admission charge. Located at 6363 St. Charles Ave. on the 4th floor of the Monroe Library, it features artifacts of Belgian Congo and rotating exhibits that showcase the works of Loyola students and faculty. The gallery is open six days a week from 10:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m., and on Sundays from noon to 6:00 p. m. For more information, contact Gallery Director Karoline Schleh at gallery@loyno.edu or by phone at 504-865-5456.
At the Preservation Resource Center visitors can learn the difference between a Creole cottage and a double-gallery Garden District mansion and between a standard shotgun house and a camelback. The center features both permanent and rotating exhibits on New Orleans architecture and historic neighborhoods. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Find the PRC at 923 Tchoupitoulas St. in the Warehouse District. The center is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m.
Finally, there is a “secret” museum most people, including locals, have never heard of. It is part of the New Orleans Public Library and can be found by clicking here. You can visit this “museum” 24/7, 365 days a year at no charge.
Article courtesy Marcia Wall at http://www.411nola.com