The Presbytère

Built in the 1790s as a matching structure to the Cabildo, which flanks the St. Louis Cathedral on the other side, it is one of the nation's best examples of formal Spanish Colonial style, with a full panoply of Renaissance architectural forms. Destroyed by a hurricane in 1915, the cupola was restored to match its twin, the Cabildo. In 1970 the structure was designated a National Historic Landmark.

The first floor is dedicated to "Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond," an exhibition exploring the history, science, and powerful human drama of one of nature's most destructive forces. The well-narrated presentation and graphic display of what happened and how the people of New Orleans coped with the Katrina disaster make you feel as if you were there.

The second floor contains an excellent exhibit detailing the history of Mardi Gras and many not-so-well-known aspects of the city's annual celebration. It's a very compelling and touching display that explains things via first-person accounts, photos, audio, video, and beautiful artifacts such as crowns, scepters, costumes, and accessories related to the tradition.