Ninth Ward

This museum may not look like much from the outside, but it is full to bursting with important history and heart wrenching stories. The staff taking care of the exhibits have poured the heart and souls into the materials and it really shows. The stories and pictures that line the walls are haunting, but also full of hope. The "Living" museum not only refers to the fact that it is updated as the people of the Lower Ninth Ward continue to face adversity in their daily lives, but it is also a reminder of the hope that life goes on and their is joy to be found. This museum is an important experience for anyone who is interested in finding truth and love in the world. I can't recommend this enough.

This place will leave a mark on my heart forever! It sits in a neighborhood in the lower 9th ward and gives the feel that you're visiting a home. If you're not careful you may pass it up because it's truly a house. Once inside we were greeted by a crew of women who advised that the museum consists of six rooms and we were free to explore each one. Nothing fancy but it was very touching and real. It was heartbreaking to see what the citizens of the 9th ward have gone thru over the years and still trying to overcome today. This museum brings light to so many things that you don't see on the news or read about on a daily. I truly have a deep appreciation for the residents of this great citizen and an extra appreciation for those in the 9th ward. This is a gem and a must see for everyone going to New Orleans and I even had the opportunity to leave comments on a book

The Lower Ninth Ward poses a conundrum. Its historic significance is obvious, and the devastation it experienced captivated the world's attention. However, the area is not a post-disaster theme park; it is indeed a mostly residential neighborhood that to the extent that it has been resettled is populated by locals. So what is the non-local who's interested in the history to do other than wander around vacant lots? Fortunately, this small museum offers one possible answer. A shotgun house packed full of pictures and videos documenting the pre- and post-Katrina history of the neighborhood, it is embedded in a residential area but gives a visitor something tangible to latch on to. It's not big, but it is free to wander, and I spent a decent amount of time thoroughly perusing everything. It certainly has an activist stance, and paints an interesting picture, including its discussion of the pluses and minuses of all the attention the place received following the hurricane. Additionally, it offers various educational programs for kids after it closes. This is a local endeavor; parking is strictly on the street, which is as haphazard as it is in much of the city, and you'll probably have to drive carefully by some kids playing pickup basketball on the way. But it makes for a great experience and offers what by all means seems to be the genuine local voice.

I came here with a couple friends. This is definitely a place to visit when you are in New Orleans. You'd do yourself a disservice not to know the city's history. Lots of parking around this area. Keep in mind that this is a neighborhood, so be courteous to people walking around. I think the unit that the museum is attached to is currently lived in. The moment you park, you get an emotional tug to New Orleans. It's in a quiet neighborhood, but your journey to the museum will show you how far, or not very far, this city has come with recovering from the hurricane. Your journey inside the museum takes you all the way back to the first settlers. As you move from room to room, you move through time, until the present. It's always good to see history from the perspective that you don't see in history books or in the news because it allows you to really experience what people experienced on the ground. This is a museum deserving of your support with your dollars.

A must visit place when traveling to New Orleans. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there, it was very emotional and joyous at times.

This was by far my favorite experience in New Orleans and I did A LOT! 3 plantations, swamp tour, ghost tour, cemetery tour, and 3 other museums. This list goes on.... What I truly loved about this museum was the eye opening experience of hurricane Katrina. I live in Washington state and man, oh man, the news was censored or wasn't actually depicted. The stories of this families that lived in the 9th ward will bring you to tears. If you want the real experience of New Orleans visit the 9th ward and this museum. Whenever I go somewhere I try to get off the beaten path of a regular tourist and visit were the locals live. Also on a side note in the museum we had an opportunity to meet Leona Tate. She was one of the first black children to go to a desegregated school in Louisiana. She Helped start the civil rights movement!!!! She helps volunteer there and she is from the 9th ward. Talk about highlight of our trip.

It is a shame what happened in the Lower Ninth during Katrina. You take a population that has always had a heavy hand holding them down, then the man adds flood waters and pushes them down harder. I came down to New Orleans the weekend of Labor Day 2005, with a few of my best friends in the Army, we were right across the bridge in the Upper Ninth Ward, but crossed over to help with recovery. This area still has not recovered, and is limping along. The first public library reopened within the last couple of years, the first since prior to Katrina. Public Schools still are not back. This museum is the pet of several professors locally to bring awareness of the dire situation. I truly believe that everyone should come to this small museum. In the middle room of this shotgun house, you pull down the blinds, watch the video of someone driving through the rains and listen to the soundtrack of the hurricanes fury. There are many clips and photos of the destruction, and the history of the area. This museum is meant to open the eyes of those who do not know what has happened, what has been happening in this area since the beginning of time in New Orleans. Really. Come spend some time in this museum, then go down the street and see the Bradgelina houses in the area. If this does not pull at the strings of your heart to do something, I do not know what will. This museum is free entry, and runs off donations. Just go ahead and throw all of your money their way. What else are you going to do? Get drunk on Bourbon Street? Your money is better spent here. Parking is street parking, you have to go up three steps to enter the museum. I am unsure about the restroom situation. I really do think that what they are doing here is of great service to a population that is forgotten about but is right in front of you. Heartbreaking. They do offer homework and other services to the children in the neighborhood. I would suggest only bringing those who can handle taking a closer look at yourself in order to appreciate this museum and what they offer.

I was expecting a museum, not a house...initially we thought our Uber driver was lost. But I'm so glad we went to the Lower Ninth Ward Museum! The pictures on the walls of pre and post Katrina really hits you. It's really hard to imagine, even looking at the pictures...you still can't fathom the damage and rebuilding they had to do. Go check this place out

Worth the Lyft ride from downtown and then some. So much history & information. I learned so much more from the displays than in all my research prior to my arrival. The truth is right here. The media is is only telling you what they want you to see and hear. Take a ride to see this museum... you won't be disappointed.

An amazing community museum that is telling a story that we all must hear. My 13-year-old is too young to remember Katrina, but has heard of it. He read ever single placard and declared this the best museum he has ever visited. It's only a four-room museum, but he spent two hours here and was entirely engrossed. I'm so glad to have shared the experience with him.

A must see for locals and visitors alike. After looking at priceless photos, hearing local stories, learning about the history and resilience of the people here, I find myself in awe of this city.

Because I've never really been able to see what exactly there has been done to not only honor the fallen, but also commemorate and tell some of their stories, this place was very emotional for me. Went with a friend to check it out. It was ... Deep. Check it out if you have the chance. There are photos, an interactive room, and synopses about different people and their homes, issues surrounding the aftermath, and then inevitable politics. Definitely worth an hour or two of your time. I don't want to be one of those "privileged" people who "got to drive to the lower ninth to check it out." But sadly, in essence, I am. I was not here during the storm or immediately after. But it breaks my heart to see so much dilapidation of some of the homes. It was interesting to see the Make it Right homes built, but even more happy to see that they were occupied. I hope then ninth will come back; I hope we can begin to focus more on the residents living there and those trying to return but do not have the means.

I appreciate the beauty of this place and the truths they display for the before and after hurricane Katrina experiences the individuals and people of the lower 9th ward! Thank you

We probably wouldn't have found this place without yelp. Small but very worth the visit. Really puts the impact of Katrina into perspective when you visit the neighborhood first hand. Would recommend a visit if you are in town!

Small, neighborhood museum of the Lower Ninth Ward. Warm and friendly with informative exhibits. I hope they get to expand a bit as they are definitely on the right track.

A must for visiting New Orleans. The history they highlight is simply astounding. Even if you know bits and pieces, seeing it all connected is a poignant experience. This is a modest exhibit, but the curation is superb, the staff is very friendly, and the story is incredible.

My limited knowledge of the Lower 9th Ward was generally from media coverage, largely post-Katrina. This museum provided an education that I never had. From the 1700s when it became a place of refuge for escaped slaves to the present day, captured in oral histories of current residents, the museum covers a wide swath of history in a small space. Making the visit even more rewarding was meeting Ms. Leona Tate, who was one of the four little girls who helped desegregate the New Orleans public school system in 1960, and who founded the museum. What a gift to hear her firsthand accounts of life in this community! The museum will be moving to the McDonogh Elementary School building, the school Ms. Tate helped desegregate and which she now owns. I look forward to visiting again!

Amazing Living History Museum for sure! Right in the heart of the Lower 9th Ward. Gracious people who invite you to drive around their neighborhood (respectfully and don't gawk or take selfies outside homes!) there are homes that have been frozen in time from Katrina. Very sad to see but the people who chose to stay/come back are in a rebirth. Lower Ninth Living Museum is off the beaten path but I think a must see for any NOLA visit. Lots of history!

If you watched the Katrina disaster from afar as we did, you have a feeling that you're missing some pretty critical information. The museum does justice in portraying the struggles of those living in the Ninth Ward during Katrina. The drive to Katrina in conjunction with the museum paints a grim picture of an ill prepared city with few means to clean up afterward. As tourists, I felt slightly uncomfortable about wanting to see this museum but we were welcomed and encouraged to stay and engage. The roads in the area of still pretty rough so make sure to go slow. Also, if you're using Navigation, don't trust Siri as she'll take you to the wrong place.

Heartbreaking, elucidating and absolutely brilliant. Bless this community and these folks for keeping the memories alive and the egregious historical maltreatment of the poor communities in this region. Rather like a Holocaust museum only with a mom n pops, co-op, volunteer-based vibe. Humble. Heartbreaking. Essential.

My wife and I visited this museum not knowing what to expect/feel. After an hour and a half of looking at all the pictures, reading about the history of the lower ninth ward and listening to the victim's stories of Katrina, we both felt emotional and gained even more admiration and respect for the people that had to live through the rebirth of this district. For anyone that is curious about what really happened before AND after the storm, please check this place out! It definitely gives a different POV and adds significantly more detail to the events than the national media did. DO NOT drive around the neighborhood, act like tourists and snap photos of families still struggling to put their lives back in order as it could seem disrespectful.

Small but moving. A real experience off the main tourist road. Just a short 15 minute uber or cab. Had the privilege of meeting Leona Tate, one of the McDonogh 3, who desegregated the New Orleans Schools. A must on your trip to NOLA.

The Lower 9th Ward Living Museum covers the history of the 9th Ward as well as current challenges of its residents. This museum is free, simple, self directed, and small but it really got to me. I learned so much about how the people who lived there were treated and how they overcome. Each room is colored a different bright NOLA color. There is a room in the middle dedicated to experiencing the feelings of Katrina. Each of the few stories in each room explain enough to put the issues in context but are still digestible. Even getting there - through the pot holed streets which still have not been fixed - is a less on the lack of justice for the residents there. But don't let the pot holes stop you, it's amazing. You will learn a lot - I did. Do not miss!

Visited over MLK weekend. Stayed in the Bywater district, wow a bridge can make a huge difference. Traveled just a few blocks and the area became immensely more neglected. So many potholes and weedy empty lots. After visiting the museum and reading and hearing stories from it's residents, it became clear that the potholes are a visible sign of the neglect that this neighborhood receives from the city of New Orleans. The exhibit is very moving and very important. Visit, donate, keep the memories and spirit alive.

Most of New Orleans Yelp is a matter of way too many reviews for everything. Not so here. We were the only ones visiting the museum for 2 hours on a rainy Sunday. It's a small, very detailed, engrossing museum where you can get lost for over an hour reading about the history and watching videos of the Lower 9th Ward. The museum is free, but after visiting if you're anything like me, you'll want to donate. Thanks to the small crew that runs this museum for sharing the story of this historic neighborhood.

This museum was great! Highly recommend it for anyone coming through New Orleans. Tells a real and accurate story of what happened during hurricane Katrina. Great staff. Love the different color rooms and how the museum is organized. MUST go.

A must see. You get true insight as to what life is like in the lower ninth ward. There is also testimony to what happened after hurricane Katrina. The staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable.

Powerful exhibit run by some truly extraordinary locals. Puts some authentic perspective on the bourgeois sights of the garden district. Can't wait to see them in their new home next year!

This is my 2nd time in NOLA. The last trip, I did Bourbon Street and Garden District. Fun, beautiful, all the usual adjectives apply. But I never left these areas to see any other part of the city. This time I decided to look at the Lower 9th. The museum has great history about the area back to days of slavery up through current times. There is a moving video display about Katrina. Best - and worst - were the reminders of how poorly the response was in the immediate aftermath and continuing through the "recovery" of the area. We drove around the neighborhood after the museum and we felt safe, despite other earnings I've read. Take the time to see this.

This should be visited by everybody. This should be on everybody's to-see list. This is the history of a part of New Orleans which we only hear about when it is flooded (and yet maybe not even then). We all need to learn what determination it has taken for the citizens of this Ward to keep living in their homes here, how they have faced (and continue to face) the area's human rights issues and yet continue to plan on for the future despite that history. These are such brave resilient residents and their neighborhood, dating back to the 1700's when it served as a colony for escaped slaves, is pictured through the years in very clear detail. It's a humbling experience - the only museum we've ever been to which has a large box of tissues at the exit. It's needed. You have to visit.

This place is absolutely a must see! This museum may be small, but it is mighty. If you want the history of the historic ninth ward through the eyes of long time residents this is the place you want to go. It is beautifully curated and takes you from pre-slavery to post Katrina. An absolute treasure.

Deeply moving. A testimony of what really happened after Katrina and a beautiful sharing of the area's rich history. A MUST see.

Used their location just to find the directions to the lower ninth. Was pleasantly surprised. Local, organized, grassroots museum. I recommend not only to tourists but to locals as well. Free admission.

Really well organized. A must visit if you are interested in current social event history. Really enjoyed it and it definitely humnled me to the new orleans katrina event.

This place should be a required stop for tourists to see the other side of New Orleans's rebirth. It's really depressing but without stopping here you're virtually guaranteeing you'll only see one side of the story.

I don't think a trip to New Orleans is complete without stopping in here. This was absolutely the highlight of our visit, a small but engrossing museum covering the history and experience of the ninth ward, just a few blocks from where the levees broke after Katrina.

A must-stop for anyone visiting New Orleans. It's definitely off the beaten path (we took a cab from our hotel in the French Quarter) but worth the trip. It's a small, no-frills museum that highlights the unique culture of the community and shows a side of the Katrina story that you won't see in the media. The staff is lovely, and the content is engrossing. You'll be thinking about the exhibits long after you've returned home.

Visiting the Lower 9th Ward Living Museum was such a valuable experience. A must see. As a first-time visitor to New Orleans, we had a blast in the French Quarter, but knew we wanted to experience all sides of the city and see/hear the voice and true experiences of its most forgotten communities. The museum was an unforgettable experience.... Both powerful and painful. But left each of us with a true appreciation and respect for the resiliency, heart, strength, and culture of the Lower Ninth. Visit! Donate! LEARN....!!!

A well-crafted, powerful exhibit; a must for anyone who wants a more complete historical picture of New Orleans from the 1700s to the present.

This is an amazing place. The history is well-laid out, the resident interviews are fantastic, the photography is beautiful and the single-room Katrina video exhibit is flat-out amazing. I wish everyone could walk through this museum - I think they would look at the history of the 9th ward, New Orleans and neglected/exploited communities everywhere differently.