Located on popularJackson Square, the Cabildo has had many uses over the years. It’s been theseat of government in New Orleans, a courthouse, a prison and a city hall.Considered one of the most important historical buildings in all of NewOrleans, the Cabildo forms part of the Louisiana State Museum.
Today the Cabildoserves as a monument to the history of Louisiana and its people. Explore thethree floors of exhibits, which display the state history from its earliestdays through the Civil War. You'll see portraits, engravings, artifacts fromthe slave period and even the death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The building wasdesigned by French architect Gilberto Guillemard, who also designed theadjacent Presbytère and St. Louis Cathedral. The Cabildo, which is Spanish forcity hall, was completed in 1799 during the era of Spanish occupation. It wasseverely damaged by fire in 1988 but was painstakingly rebuilt and reopened in1994.
Onthe second floor, tour the Sala Capitular, the government meeting room wheremany of Louisiana's important judicial events have taken place. Pay a visit tothe central stone courtyard where you'll still see the cannons and stocks fromthe early days of Louisiana, and artifacts dating from the peak of theplantation era.
Itwould be easy to spend an entire day at the Cabildo if you read all thedocuments on display. A quicker stroll through the exhibits can also be made intwo to three hours. The museum focuses on local history through the ages and itregularly holds special exhibitions that highlight a particular period ofhistory.
TheCabildo is one of five properties of the Louisiana State Museum that are opento the public and all are within walking distance of each other. Buy a ticketto two or more of the museums to receive a discount price. The Cabildo is openTuesday through Sunday
