New Orleans Museum of Art 🇺🇸

Located inside City Park near the end of the Canal Street streetcar line, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) is the city's oldest fine arts museum. First established in 1911 through a grant by philanthropist Isaac Delgado, this premier institution stands on elevated ground with a rich history. When you visit, you can explore a permanent collection containing over 40,000 objects that span 5,000 years of human artistic creation, ranging from the Italian Renaissance to the modern era.

Art lovers will appreciate NOMA's comprehensive survey of French art, highlighted by important works painted by French Impressionist Edgar Degas during his stay in New Orleans. As you wander through the galleries, you will encounter pieces by legendary masters such as Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Rodin, and Jackson Pollock, alongside a survey of local Louisiana artists. Beyond paintings, you can view a 12,000-work photography collection, glass, pre-Columbian Central American art, Japanese paintings, and African folk art.

Outside the main building, you can stroll through the 11.5-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, featuring over 90 modern and contemporary sculptures set amidst live oaks, lagoons, and walking trails. You can also catch lectures, film screenings, or dine at Café NOMA.

What to see at New Orleans Museum of Art

• Over 40,000 works spanning 5,000 years, including pieces by Monet, Picasso, and Pollock
• Works painted by French Impressionist Edgar Degas during his 1871–1872 stay in New Orleans
• The 11.5-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden featuring over 90 modern sculptures
• An extensive photography collection with more than 12,000 works from its origins to present
• On-site amenities including Café NOMA by Ralph Brennan and film screenings in the auditorium

Visiting tips

Take the Canal Street – City Park streetcar line directly to City Park to arrive right near the museum's location.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

New Orleans Museum of Art is easy to reach on New Orleans’s public transport, and pairs naturally with St. Louis Cathedral. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our New Orleans travel guide.