1850 House Museum & Gift Shop

1850 House is a well-preserved townhouse, complete with a courtyard, which provides rare public access beyond the storefronts to the interior of the Pontalba Buildings. It was designed for the wealthy Baroness de Pontalba, who had them built in 1849, when New Orleans was one of the largest cities in the US, riding on the wealth of its booming port. These buildings were the height of fashion among the prosperous middle class, particularly for the decorative iron balconies of the apartments, admired as much today as they were in antebellum times when they considerably spurred the craze for ironwork.

Run by the Louisiana State Museum, the three-story residence presents a demonstration of a well-to-do family's life in the 1850s during the most prosperous period in Southern history. Faithfully furnished with domestic goods, decorative arts, and innovations of the day (including walk-in closets and private bathrooms), it comprises several "revival" artworks and furniture inspired by Rococo, Gothic and Classical styles. Note the Old Paris porcelain, New Orleans silver, the six-piece bedroom suite comprising a large half-tester bed, a dressing table, two mirror-faced armories, a washstand, a nightstand, and paintings by several French-trained artists.

The guided tour vividly illustrates the contrast between the upstairs portion of the house, where the upper-middle-class family lived in comfort, and the downstairs, where the staff toiled in considerable drudgery to make their masters comfortable. It's quite an informative look at life in the good, and not so good, old days.

Why You Should Visit:
Great for some local history and color; worth a look if you are interested in how the area was established and the city's historical aspect. If you have never seen an 1850s southern home before, this is a must!

Tip:
Take time to visit the downstairs store run by the Friends of the Cabildo, which offers handmade art, jewelry, pottery, and crafts, by local artists, as well as books on every subject – from New Orleans history to food to voodoo.