BK Historic House and Gardens

I had an unexpected day off so I came over from the West Bank using the city library’s Culture Pass. I am so happy I did. Guided tours start on the hour. Our tour guide Nia was incredibly knowledgeable and is a skilled storyteller as well. She took us through the home’s many lives and wove in so much history about the people who constructed it and the methods they used. Minute for minute, I learned more on this tour than any other I’ve taken here in NO. I can’t wait to send my friends and family on this tour and I hope they’re lucky enough to get our same tour guide.

Had a lovely (and accidentally private) tour at 12pm today. I learned a lot and saw so many beautifully designed pieces and rooms. The gardens at the end were the cherry on top

Absolutely incredible! My brother and I were recently given the gracious opportunity to visit BK House and gardens on a day it was actually closed to the public. We were warmly welcomed by Nia, the Director of Education, who generously gave us a private, in-depth tour even though the property was closed during regular business hours. Nia was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. She answered all of our questions and shared fascinating stories about the many families who have lived in the house over the centuries. Her extensive knowledge of the home's history and architecture truly brought it to life. I will definitely be recommending BK House to others. My only small disappointment was the absence of a gift shop, as there were no souvenirs available to take home. Still, I cannot wait to return and bring friends and family with me!

We had such an amazing tour here, 100% recommend! We got super lucky because the normal volunteers weren't there, so Nia, the director of education, gave us our tour (less lucky for her, but our gain...) She was just AWESOME! Her knowledge of the house and history made for a very informative tour, and her passion was contagious! She answered all of our questions and provided interesting stories. We got to see the courtyard set up for a wedding, as well, and it was really a beautiful space. She also let us know to come back the next day, we came back for the Rhythm and Roses concert with Helen Gillet, which was super enjoyable! I also enjoyed seeing some of the filming locations for Interview with a Vampire, if you're a fan.

The docent Jeff was very knowledgeable. Guided tours of the house offer engaging insights into the lives of the families who lived there, as well as the cultural and social history of New Orleans. The knowledgeable guides add depth to the experience, making it more than just a visual journey but also an educational one. The tour lasts a little less than an hour. The BK Historic House and Gardens in New Orleans is a beautifully preserved example of the city’s rich architectural heritage and its deep connection to nature.

Very unique history because of the female author who restored and lived in the house. Beautiful garden and house. The tour starts every hour

Truly an interesting experience, offering a glimpse into how the wealthy used to live in New Orleans. For the ticket price you get a tour of the house, the tour guide was really amazing. She had all sorts of interesting facts and seemed really passionate about everything. Most people don’t visit these types of places while in NOLA but it’s really worth it!

Beautiful house, and the tour guide was great. I can't remember her name (nice black lady with the beautiful hair), but I could tell she is a history buff!! The tour was more exciting, because she shared a lot of information with us.

Francis -Parkinson Keyes, one of my favorite authors lived here so we always pay homage on a trip. it never gets old. Built in 1926, This architectural treasure is an outstanding example of a raised center hall villa and includes both Creole and American features in an elaborately detailed residence. BK House's diverse history includes the stories of those who both lived and labored here for nearly 200 years. Originally owned by Ursuline nuns and subsequently occupied by PT Beauregard and Francis- Parkinson Keyes. FPK also wrote a novel called The Chess Players, based on chess champion Paul Morphy, who was also the grandson of the original owner of the house, LeCarpentier.(A great book). Our first tour a few years ago was just us and the docent. There was an ermine cape as worn by FPK and I tried it on. It fit perfectly. Another Urban gem in New Orleans.

The BK Historic House and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark built in 1826 and restored to its present condition by renowned author Frances Parkinson Keyes beginning in 1948. It is an example of a raised Creole cottage and is lovingly cared for by the Keyes Foundation. Reasonable admission price, the tours start every hour on the hour. You are not allowed inside to wait more than 10-15 minutes before the tour begins, so be aware of that during the hot summer months. This is well worth the stop if you are in the area. It is located in the French Quarter, but off the beaten path.

Nice tour very informative about the history of the house and local area We were able to get a private tour at the end of the day

Much more history and beautiful architecture to explore inside...gardens and a courtyard.

Books, Murder, Civil War Veterans and a Prodigy Chess Master. The story of the Beauregard-Keyes House is a twisted tale. We were lucky to have a retired New Orleanian architect, Robert, as the docent who really brought the history of this restored gem to life. Originally slated to be the site of a weapons arsenal, the Ursuline nuns used this property from the early 1700s as a garden until Joseph Le Carpentier had an architect from Baltimore and a free person of color from New Orleans design and build his home in 1825. Le Carpentier's grandson was Paul Morphy, the prodigy world-famous chess champion, who was found dead in his bath tub at age 39, possibly from a heat stroke. Le Carpentier sold the property to the Swiss Consul John Merle whose wife built a garden as an addition. Most likely, the garden allowed families a reprieve from the nasty sanitation smell of the French Quarter. The property then changed hands several times until it was bought by a grocer in the French Quarter, Dominique Lanata, as investment property. His first tenant, Civil War General P.G.T Beauregard, was one of the most famous residents. Although he only rented here for 18 months, this building carries his name. The next owner, the Giacona family, moved here in 1904. They were in the "wholesale liquor business." A rival sect of the mafia, the Sicilian Black Hand Mafia, felt that the Giacona family was infringing on their business. During a "dinner" meeting, three or four members of the Black Hand were assassinated during or shortly after that meal on the back porch. Pietro and Corrado Giacona were arrested and charged, but their case was dismissed eventually on the grounds of self-defense and "service" to the community. In 1925, the property was auctioned off and the new owner threatened to tear down the home and turn the property into a macaroni factory unless preservationists rescued the home. Although sold, the home fell into disarray and was used as a refuge for homeless men and by Alcoholic Anonymous. In 1945, author Frances Parkinson Keyes was looking for a place to write and live in New Orleans. She stumbled onto the property and spent the next 25 years restoring the historic gem to its Victorian roots and writing novels. She was an avid collector and her collection of veillsuses (a teapot that also has a cup and a night light) is the second largest in the world. She had an eclectic group of friends which are featured in her photographs, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, restaurateur Ella Brennan, and old Hollywood elite. She was able to add furniture from the Beauregard family due to her friendship with P.G.T. Beauregard's granddaughter. Although the home is not the fanciest historic home that I have toured, Robert was one of the best tour guides. His one hour tour was so entertaining and he was quite honest and passionate about past. We used our NARM reciprocity passes for entry. Tours occur every hour and are $10 without a pass. To enter, ring the doorbell. Someone will answer, eventually.

This review is for a WEDDING at Beauregard-Keyes House. A friend recently got married here, despite walking by the venue earlier in the day, I really didn't know what the wedding itself would be like, but we were all blown away by the event! The ceremony itself took place in the garden next door. Really beautiful settings with trimmed hedges, fountain, lily-pads, roses etc. And a live band joined in for cocktail hour while we hung out. Afterwards the reception moved inside the house, which despite the word house being the in the name, I wasn't quite prepared for it. This really is a historic house with several rooms and antique furniture and paintings. Quite a lot of things to look at and was quite a unique setting. She had a food buffet set up in the front room and tables in the next room. On the balcony outback she had the bar set up, as well as a wonderful view of the courtyard and fountain down below with another band and dance area. Really beautiful wedding venue where you can easily do ceremony and reception!

Our tour guide Carolyn Guidry was awesome! The tour was so interesting and I hung on to every word. I would highly recommend it!

After walking by hundreds of times, finally made it to an event at the BK House! This review is for the opening evening of the candlelight concert series, "Bach & The Beetles". We took our own wine and snacks and were seated on the veranda overlooking the courtyard and concert. Overall, a wonderful evening in a beautiful setting! The house and courtyard were spectacular. I highly recommend a visit for a tour, or better yet, a candlelight concert!

Lovely historical tour of how people really lived By far one of the best tours I was able to see in NOLA. John is a volunteer who has a vast knowledge of Mrs.Keyes and the history of all the owners of the house. Loved seeing the time period furniture pieces and the stories that were involved. Courtyard is quaint & we got some lovely pictures in the garden. Really enjoyed the on the hour tour. Very impressed!

Stunning home and can't wait to visit again for a tour. We were fortunate enough to be able to walk through the home to get to the courtyard to see the Bach to Beetles Fever candlelight show. You bring your own wine and snacks and watch a small quartet play the most amazing music. The courtyard is clean and cozy.

Attended a wedding here. Such a beautiful and historic property. The garden was perfect for the wedding ceremony. The courtyard area for the reception was so nice as well! Such a magical evening all around because of this place.

Fantastic tour and fantastic tour guide! The tours start every hour on the hour, and you ring the bell to let them know you're there. There are chairs on the porch if you're waiting for the hour to come, and you can watch the people go by. Very fun if those people are on segways. The house isn't fully furnished (the dining room is a little sparse) but a lot of what is there belonged to the general himself. The history of the families and house were very interesting, and the interior is beautiful. Sad to think it could have been destroyed for a macaroni factory. Although the house is supposed to be haunted by a dog, cat, and the memory of the Civil War, there were no sightings.

ONE OF OUR BEST This beautiful raised federal cottage is packed with 200 years of interesting, often quirky, New Orleans history. It was also home to two of our more reknown characters: General PGT Beauregard and the author Frances Parkinson Keyes. The hour long tour is just $10 and is given by curators who have lovingly cared for the home for as many as 40 years. No one in our group was less than fascinated during the entire experience. A FEW TEASERS: - murder and the mafia - ties to John Kennedy Toole - the Duke and Duchess of Windsor - the holy mother's family tree!

Had a wonderful time taking the tour of the house. The tour guide was very knowledgable and friendly. With only 4 other people on the tour, it was a real treat! Tours are done on the hour and last about 45 minutes!

Great tour! we went Monday morning at 10:00 AM with a Groupon. Very interesting and beautiful house with a lot of history attached to it. Our guide was very helpful and happy to answer any questions we had during the tour. Don't miss the beautiful garden at the end of the tour!

This review is for the BK House as an event space. I had my wedding here in March of 2016 and had a FANTASTIC experience. The director of the house was a huge help to me as things got hectic towards the end (if you've been there, you know) and was so accommodating to every request we made. The greatest part of having our wedding here is that we were able to bring in our own vendors. The majority of the venues in the Quarter (and in the city) require you to work with either their in house or contracted caterer, meaning you get much less flexibility in price and quality. We were able to shop around and bring in whoever we wanted, not just in catering, but florists, musicians, and even some small decor too. (We hung lights in the courtyard. They were beautiful!). One note on this flexibility: we saved a TON of money by being able to shop around-- however, this also meant we had a lot of moving parts. If you want a ready-to-go, decisions made for you kind of place, there are some beautiful venues in the Quarter that are more in that line. I don't mean to say that means your wedding will be cookie cutter, but do know that with this flexibility comes some more coordination for either you or your wedding planner. We had our ceremony in the garden and the reception in the house and courtyard. We had about 130 people, and everyone fit just fine. The house was made for entertaining, and man has it stood the test of time in that regard. The big rooms are perfect for food and chatting and the courtyard was our dance floor. Easily, this was the most beautiful night of my life, and yeah, maybe that makes me a cheeseball. I highly, highly recommend this spot to all the brides and grooms out there looking!

Took a nice tour using a 2 for 1 Groupon. It's about an hour tour with no reservations needed. Takes place at the top of the hour every hour. Our tour guide, Ott, was very friendly and knowledgable. I believe he said he has been doing this for 20+ years. There was only four of us on the tour so it was low key. I honestly had no idea of the house's history, just saw the groupon and had never toured the house and thought it was a nice 1 hour diversion. Got a lesson on who Confederate General Beauregard was and who Mrs. Keyes, an author of signficace, was. It was a nice bit of history. And FYI, it is pronounced like "eyes" with a K, so rhymes with 'skies'.

This is a review of the Beauregard-Keyes house as a tourist attraction. I have also left reviews of the house on Facebook and TripAdvisor. My husband and I took our first trip to New Orleans. When we went, the Beauregard-Keyes house was not only not on our list of "things to see and do" -- it wasn't even on our radar. Fortunately, we hadn't planned our vacation down to the last minute, so when we happened to walk past the house, notice it, and notice the sign that said that tours are offered every hour, we thought, "Why not come back and tour it?" We're so glad we did. Docent Rosanna greeted us at the door with a joking, "You're late!" and it just got better from there. We were the only two people touring that hour, so we had her all to ourselves. She was knowledgeable, friendly and lots of fun. We both had some awareness of General Beauregard (note: his name is associated with the house, but he actually didn't stay there that long -- the situation is almost "General Beauregard slept here"), but neither of us knew a thing about author Frances Parkinson Keyes, who really did live in the house for quite some time and played a part in making it what it is today. The two people who lent their names to the house are only a part of its fascinating history -- just wait until you get to the story of the Giacona family! If you enjoy history, literature or architecture, the Beauregard-Keyes house is a must-see. My husband and I are both very glad we stumbled across it!

The Garden is quite nice, but the hours here are shady.

Nice little tour. The house is bigger than it appears. The tour guide made the tour, he was very knowledgeable and pleasant. Learned a lot about the city and the house.

Should be a must on your list, learn about the history of the house and a bit of new orleans history as well. The gardens, the house and the gift shop are a must. The house was originally built in the early 1800's and for those of us NOT living in the south, it's a step back in time. Hopefully you are lucky enough to get Ott as your tour guide. He's knowledgeable, humorous and even says 'go ahead 'touch' it'...when do you ever hear that!!! Bought some books written by one of the owner of the house and I like it too!

This is the house that General Beauregard rented and eventually purchased after the War of Northern Agression (some people refer to it as the "Civil War"). I dunno, the place is kind of cool, but I was bummed to find out it wasn't like the "Beauregard Family Estate" or anything like that. I was expecting it to be of more signifficance to his life since they're putting his name on the monicher. For those of you who don't know, General Beauregard was the third top General in the Confederacy, and a feisty little guy (he was short). The other thing you have to love him for is.... HE FIXED THE LOUISIANA STATE LOTTERY!! Many people call this his "shame" but man, anybody who could fix a lottery over a hundred years ago is a stud! The house itself is pretty run down. They charge you $5 for the walk through tour, and it's cool to learn how people really lived in New Orleans before the time of air conditioning, they just need to raise a pot of money and at least repaint the joint. If you want to take a moment away from drinking, then I reccomend this as a nice mellow stop while in the Big Easy.

This was a great tour and we were so glad that we went. Our tour guide was really friendly and very knowledgeable about the house, art and people who had lived there. It was really great that we were able to take pictures of anything we wanted and were even able to play the beautiful piano in the house. We were also given a book that was written by Frances Keyes, who lived there. After the tour we were able to spend as much time as we wanted in the really pretty garden on the side of the house.

A really lovely, old historic house museum in the French Quarter. We enjoyed the tour and the guide staff, who were very thorough in their description of the house. The gardens were impressive and well-kept and you could sense the price of its docents when they spoke about the home's history. The focused mainly on the Mrs. Keyes story here - her writing, dolls, and life. Hardly any mention on the Beauregard story. If you have time and a free afternoon, I'd recommend it if you are interested in historic houses.

Really enjoyed the Tour here. They're open Mon - Sat until 3pm and was able to catch the last tour on Saturday at 3pm on our first day in town. Probably had about 15 people on our tour and didn't feel rushed or crowded at all. Tour lasts a good hour and takes you through the full main house, servants quarters, and allows you access into the private garden. Guides were extremely friend and down to earth with a lot of historical information about the families that lived there, the history of New Orleans during that time, and information on all the furniture and items found throughout the house. The last owner was the famous author Frances Keyes. She restored the property over approx. 20 years, and eventually renovated the former servants quarters behind the house into her personal residence when she could no longer climb the stairs. The restored plaster work and detail found in the main house was like nothing I've seen before. Each room has intricate molded plaster leaves or fans around the ceiling and are a delight to see. The rooms feel wide and spacious with 14' ceilings and wonderful possessions donated by the Keyes family and former owners. Garden was beautiful as well with intricate box hedges and a fountain. Passersby on the street stopped many a time to peek in through the side gates so felt special to have access to the inside! Quick Tip: - Price is very reasonable at $10pp, however I found out about this through a voucher on Living Social - 2 people for $10. - Don't be surprised when you show up for the tour that you'll need to wait outside on the porch. They'll open the door at the next tour time and you're off! All funds are collected at the end of the tour.

Small private tour of the property where you'll even get to enter the GORGEOUS garden next door. Pictures are allowed, and the tour guides are INCREDIBLY knowledgeable! You'll learn a lot of stuff about the previous inhabitants and what roles they had in Louisiana History! The displays which include a full Suisse guard (ie: like those at the Vatican) will surprise you. There's literally a treasure trove around every corner!

Great visit especially after getting a 1/2 off deal thanks to groupon. Better tour and more hands on than Oak Alley plantation tours. Knowledgable guides and funny, too! Get a free book upon entering. Beautiful courtyard and a great place for any writer to visit!

it was a great tour by John with a lot of history of NO and very intersting collections of Mrs Keyes. Definitely recommend ..

This house is so beautiful, as are the gardens. Simply stunning. And our tour guide was absolutely hysterical which made it all the more fun. I'm not sure when he works or what his name was, but we went on a Friday afternoon so if that's what it takes to get him as your tour guide, it's worth it. He told us a lot of interesting things about the various characters who have owned/rented/restored the house as well general interesting things about the period. If you've wanted to see inside one of the gorgeous French Quarter houses--here's your chance! The first few pictures that show up (at least as of today, 8/12/16) on Yelp are totally not helpful/not representative of this gorgeous building.

Mostly pleased with our tour here, considering that the other two house tours I had scheduled canceled due to the rain on 3/11/16. This one remained open, and I was happy by that. The man who gave us the tour was very kind to us, though not so much to the couple who joined us a little late, as he had to start the tour over for them. I grew to really like our tour guide with his flair and way of talking with sarcasm, but he also rushed us a bit through the main house which was disappointing. I wanted to linger over artifacts just a bit longer. In the end I was grateful they had opened up during the rainstorm when it was expected to be much worse. Worth checking out if you are in to old houses and history like me.

Nothing personal, I much prefer the Hermann-Grima house much more. It's a larger home, with the detached kitchen, and the tour covers lots of history of life in the French Quarter. The Beauregard-Keyes house did have a very nice, informative tour guide. You are offered a book to take home written by Frances Parkinson Keyes, which I thought was really great. I wish I had researched some of it's history of being haunted before I visited. There is only one floor, rooms out back, and a gated garden. Right across from the Ursaline convent if you're interested in killing two birds.

This is a nice, low key tour of a period home with tons of antiques, a little history, and a story about local author Frances Keyes who spent many years restoring the home. The beautiful hand carved moldings and architecture of the building is reason enough to visit.

Loved the tour. We had a great guide who'd spent many years giving tours of the place and even living on the property at one point in his life. He didn't rush at all and was full of stories and humor. I'd wanted to do a home tour in the Quarter for a long time to see what was behind all those great facades. This was well worth it.

This house is fabulous, as was our tour guide, Ira. His wealth of knowledge about this fascinating piece of history was unreal. I had no idea this place even existed until yesterday, and now I know tons! We really enjoyed our time here. Also, if you can afford it, it's a spectacular event venue as well!

Great tour and they don't cry if you happen to touch the furniture. We've been on the tour twice. I wish they would allow the tour to go upstairs.

Large and interesting home with a colorful past. Guided tour. Our guide was a little gruff and direct but not rude. Just a personality thing. He let us in late and did the first part of the tour for us on the next hour. Sadly, we were only two of four people total within that two hour space. But that made it better for us. It's worth the ten bucks.