Old Ursuline Convent Museum, New Orleans

Old Ursuline Convent Museum, New Orleans The Old Ursuline Convent Museum's home is the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley. With St.
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Louis Cathedral, it forms the campus of the Catholic Cultural Center of New Orleans. The Old Ursuline Convent was completed in 1752, replacing an earlier structure completed in 1734, and is the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley. The Ursuline nuns lived on this site from not long after their arrival in New Orleans in 1727 until 1824. Here they operated a convent, orphanage, and school

for girls. This historic building is now home to a brilliant museum with both permanent and changing exhibits.

On this day in 1727, Ursuline nuns arrived in New Orleans to staff the French military hospital, but quickly moved into ...
08/07/2026

On this day in 1727, Ursuline nuns arrived in New Orleans to staff the French military hospital, but quickly moved into their core ministry of education. In year 299 of this tradition, we look forward to celebrating the Ursulines' Tricentennial next year with Ursuline Academy of New Orleans and other communities throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

We are so proud to own and display the Heritage Edition of the Saint John's Bible! We currently only have the capacity ...
07/13/2026

We are so proud to own and display the Heritage Edition of the Saint John's Bible! We currently only have the capacity to display one of the seven books at a time. We recently put on display the Wisdom books of the Old Testament. This is a Bible our donors want you to have access to and to touch and turn the pages (carefully and with clean hands, of course). Please come and enjoy the beautiful art and calligraphy. You will be inspired and will experience the Word in new ways.

We're doing important work to prepare for 2026-27. See you on Wednesday!
07/06/2026

We're doing important work to prepare for 2026-27. See you on Wednesday!

Thank you to the more than 300 guests who visited us over the course of just three hourse for The French Quarter Museum ...
07/03/2026

Thank you to the more than 300 guests who visited us over the course of just three hourse for The French Quarter Museum Association Night 2026! What a night for us and our sister institutions in the Vieux Carré! Come back soon--perhaps this fall when we will install an exhibit celebrating the tricentennial of the Ursulines' arrival in New Orleans. Oh--for next summer's Museum Night, we promise to order a little more wine. Glad you enjoyed it.

06/27/2026

Due to an unexpected street closure near our site, we have closed the Old Ursuline Convent Museum for today, Saturday, June 27, 2026. We apologize for this and hope to see you Tuesday when we reopen as scheduled.

Please note our altered schedule for the next several days. Thank you, and hope to see you here soon!
06/18/2026

Please note our altered schedule for the next several days. Thank you, and hope to see you here soon!

Now on display in our museum! The Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible is the first handwritten and illuminated B...
05/13/2026

Now on display in our museum! The Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible is the first handwritten and illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine institution since the invention of the printing press.

This work of sacred art, which was gifted to the Catholic Cultural Center of New Orleans by Dallas philanthropists Elaine and Bruce Culver following the Jan. 1, 2025, terrorist attack on Bourbon Street, encourages guests to experience Scripture through meticulous calligraphy, vivid illuminations, and passages that continue to resonate today.

As Pope Leo XIV recently reminded us, the Gospel urges us to welcome the stranger, to recognize the humanity and dignity of all people, and to "open our arms and hearts" to migrants and refugees.

The historic Cope of St. John Vianney, the beloved Curé of Ars and patron saint of parish priests, is now on exhibit, as well.

Come check it all out at 1112 Chartres St., Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Due to a water shutoff in our area as a result of infrastructure improvement work, our museum will be closed today, Apri...
04/08/2026

Due to a water shutoff in our area as a result of infrastructure improvement work, our museum will be closed today, April 8. With a planned resumption of regular service this afternoon, we plan to be open as usual tomorrow (Thursday, April 9). Let's hope Easter and spring mean a new start for our French Quarter infrastructure!

An active Good Friday at our site as pilgrims visit St. Mary’s.
04/03/2026

An active Good Friday at our site as pilgrims visit St. Mary’s.

Please note our holiday hours for the Old Ursuline Convent Museum. The museum will be closed, but we look forward to wel...
04/01/2026

Please note our holiday hours for the Old Ursuline Convent Museum. The museum will be closed, but we look forward to welcoming Nine Churches pilgrims at St. Mary’s Church as well as St. Louis Cathedral - Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France on Good Friday. We wish you all a joyful Easter!

Address

1112 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA
70116

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Wednesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+15045293040

Website

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