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Old Ursuline Convent Museum

The Oldest Building in the Mississippi River Valley 

  • Catholic Cultural Center
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  • Home
  • Visit
      • Museum Hours
      • Group Tours
      • Gift Shop
      • Virtual Tour
  • Catholic Cultural Center
      • About: Our Mission and Vision
      • Cultural Calendar 2024-25
  • Exhibits
      • Current Exhibits
      • Eternal Life
      • Previous Exhibits
  • About
      • Staff
      • History
      • Photo Albums
      • News
      • Events Calendar
  • Weddings & Receptions
    • At the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley,
      experience the history and culture of the city of New Orleans
      and the Catholic Church's vital role here.




      The museum is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
      Self Guided Tours & Guided Tours available Daily



      The Old Ursuline Convent was completed in 1752, replacing the Ursuline nuns' first convent in New Orleans that had been built nearby in 1734. The Ursuline nuns remained here until 1824, using the site as their convent, orphanage, and school for girls.  The site served briefly as a meeting place for the Louisiana Legislature and for decades as the residence of the Archbishops of New Orleans.

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

  • Eternal Life
    Eternal Life
    New exhibit now open
      • Learn more
  • Learn More

    • Architecture
    • St. Mary's Church
    • History
    Architecture
    • The Old Ursuline Convent’s facade is simple, with twelve bays, two floors and an attic level made of three dormers. The structure uses brick-between-post construction covered by a white plaster, simulating stone on the corners and central bay. The doors and windows use simple molding while a pediment underscores the main entrance. Having many doors and windows available and across from each other is a feature that was developed specifically for this climate as a way to battle the oppressive heat and humidity. Placing the doors and windows parallel creates a cross ventilation, forcing warm interior air out and cool outside air in.
       

      View the Architecture 

    St. Mary's Church
    • St. Mary’s Church at 1116 Chartres St. served as the place of worship for the bishops and archbishops of New Orleans when they were in residence at the Old Ursuline Convent in the 19th century. Built in 1845, St. Mary's Church is a building slightly older than the current structure of St. Louis Cathedral, which dates primarily to 1850.
       

      View the Church 

    History
    • The Old Ursuline Convent is the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley. Constructed by French Colonial Engineers under the auspices of the crown, the convent was designed in 1745 and completed in 1752-1753. Over the centuries, this building has been a convent for the Ursuline nuns, an orphanage, a school, an archbishop's residence, the archdiocesan central office, and even a meeting place for the Louisiana Legislature. Later, it served as a residence for priests serving mainly the Italian community and then housed the Archdiocesan Archives. Today, together with the St. Louis Cathedral and St. Mary's Church, it is part of the Catholic Cultural Center of New Orleans.

 

Old Ursuline Convent Museum

Historic French Quarter
1112 Chartres St. | New Orleans, LA 70116
504-529-3040

Admissions/Gift shop

Open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.


Proud member of the French Quarter Museum Association
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