Just short of an hour’s drive outside of the city, Whitney Plantation is worth the trip. The house museum prides itself on being the only plantation in Louisiana with a focus on slavery. Its buildings, exhibits, and memorials are all first-person narratives of enslaved Africans. Tours, led by Senegalese historian Dr. Ibrahima Seck, are raved about by locals and visitors alike.
As a major port city, New Orleans played a significant role in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. In fact, more men, women, and children were brought to New Orleans and sold in slave markets than any other city in the country. While this is a dark part of our city's history, it's also one that is crucial to recognize and learn from. This guide provides not only a map for self-guided tours, but also context, visuals, and first-person narratives of enslaved Africans and their journey to New Orleans, as well as their experiences once in the United States.
The New Orleans African American Museum is dedicated to protecting, preserving, and promoting through education the history, art, and communities of African Americans in New Orleans and the African diaspora. The museum reopened in 2019 after a six-year closure and $2 million renovation.
For more heritage tours, see here for a full list.
Historically Black Neighborhoods & Their Landmarks
Tremé, known as the oldest African American neighborhood in the U.S., is filled with hundreds of years of history. While strolling its streets you’ll come across significant landmarks like St. Augustine Church, the oldest African American church in New Orleans. You can walk through Congo Square in Armstrong Park, the place where enslaved people could gather to sing, dance, drum, and keep their African cultural traditions alive. While you’re in Tremé, remember that this is the neighborhood where some of New Orleans’ earliest jazz musicians began to play (and teach) the genre.
Central City
A former hub for the Civil Rights Movement has transformed into a stomping ground for second-line parades, Mardi Gras Indians, and up-and-coming Black entrepreneurs. While in Central City you would be remiss to not check out the beautiful murals along Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. While you’re there, stop in Ashé Cultural Arts Center and discover what monthly programming is taking place.
