The Cabildo Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Cabildo. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• New Orleans Sightseeing City Tour
• New Orleans French Quarter and More Carriage Ride
• New Orleans French Quarter Walking and History Tour
• French Quarter Boozy Lunch Crawl with Seafood Boil
• Dark History Tour In New Orleans

Admission to the Cabildo costs US$11 for adults 61 and under, US$9 for those 62 and over, and US$9 for active military members and their spouses. Tickets are also US$9 for students with ID and visitors ages 7–17. Admission is free for children 6 and under.

The Cabildo was built in the 18th century, when New Orleans was under Spanish rule, and was designed by the same architect as the St. Louis Cathedral. It's famous as the spot where the Louisiana Purchase was signed in 1803. The building was badly damaged in a fire in the 1980s and reconstructed using historic methods.

The Cabildo is open daily from 9am to 4pm for much of the year, but it closes on state holidays, so it's best to check the website before you set out. Note that tickets are only sold until 3:30 pm, so plan to arrive earlier.

Yes, the Cabildo is wheelchair accessible and there's an elevator available for any visitor who needs it. Service animals are also allowed inside the building, within the rules of the Americans with Disabilities Act. You can contact the museum for information about accommodations for people with other disabilities or sensory needs.

All sorts of artifacts can be seen at the Cabildo, including documents related to the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies, and objects from early US history. The museum’s most famous artifact is Napoleon's death mask, a cast of Napoleon Bonaparte’s face that was made after he died.