Madame John's Legacy
Madame John's Legacy
4
About
This building is currently undergoing major restoration projects and is closed to the public. The second-oldest building in the Mississippi Valley and a fine example of Creole architecture, this center offers exhibits on history and Creole-style art.
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The area
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Neighbourhood: French Quarter
A small and teeming network of laissez-faire living lounged out on the balmy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the French Quarter has long been a port of call for folks in search of a good time and a great story. Perpetually inebriated Bourbon Street runs across its midriff like a strand of cheap ribbon tied around an otherwise rather pretty and impressively well-kept vintage dress. Throughout the rest of the Quarter, brightly colored Victorian homes and businesses, famously done up with wrought-iron features, provide a distinct and immediately recognizable backdrop for all varieties of fun. At any given moment in this historic riverside setting, some of America’s finest meals are being cooked, most potent cocktails are being mixed, and most engaging music is being performed.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
48 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
19
Average
12
Poor
4
Terrible
1
luvroma2
Reading, PA1,943 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
This historic house is owned by the stae of Louisiana. There is a self guided tour, but it did not provide much information about the house. We had heard about this house from the national park service ranger during our walking tour of the French Quarter earlier in the day. However, the young man at the front desk was quite knowledgeable and informative about the house, once I started asking questions.
The Newcomb Pottery exhibit was fascinating. I had never heard of this pottery before and the history was very interesting. It started as an outlet for young women to have a "respectable" way to express their artisitc talents by designing and creating pottery. Louisiana state has a large collection of this pottery, which is no longer produced.
The Newcomb Pottery exhibit was fascinating. I had never heard of this pottery before and the history was very interesting. It started as an outlet for young women to have a "respectable" way to express their artisitc talents by designing and creating pottery. Louisiana state has a large collection of this pottery, which is no longer produced.
Written 14 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica W
Philadelphia, PA103 contributions
Mar 2015
This is a great example of French colonial architecture that existed prior to a fire that destroyed much of the city during the eighteenth century. It's architecture is unlike most of the French Quarter that was built up after the fires. It is a free museum and houses a (temporary?) exhibit of Newcomb Pottery. The facade and ground level were used in the filming of Interview with a Vampire.
Written 22 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert R
Jefferson, LA17 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
Right in the French Quarter, this 1788 house was built after a fire that took out a part of the area. Twelve Years a Slave and Interview With the Vampire scenes were filmed here. But I enjoy this place for its collection of Newcomb pottery on display. No longer on exhibit at Tulane Gallery on the University campus, this collection has wonderful examples of the cottage industry created at the turn of the last century to give employment to women in the liberal arts.
Written 27 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susanf989
Harwich Port, MA69 contributions
May 2015 • Solo
...old Creole home in almost perfect condition. Most importantly, Madame John's contains the only Newcomb Pottery exhibit in all of NOLA and it was stunning! The pottery is rarely on the market so to see some of older pieces was a thrill. The house is stunning in its simplicity and its restoration is spot-on perfect! Well worth it for ceramics and old house lovers!
Written 9 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Escriteur
Austin, TX101 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
Madame John's Legacy is one of the many buildings/museums that comprise the Louisiana State Museum system. While most of the attractions charge a modest admission, Madame John's Legacy offers free admission -- making it a worthwhile stop on any visit to New Orleans. The architecture alone makes this building worth a look, as it is one of the oldest buildings in New Orleans, and one of the rare wooden structures that escaped the great fire of 1795. During our visit, Madame John's Legacy was hosting a display of Newcomb Pottery. The pieces were lovely, and it was interesting to read about the history of Newcomb College and its female pottery artists.
Another reviewer mentioned that the site was scheduled to close at the end of this exhibit. I hadn't heard that, but I do hope they keep it open, as it's certainly worth a visit. The building is located in the heart of the French Quarter, just a couple of blocks from Jackson Square.
Another reviewer mentioned that the site was scheduled to close at the end of this exhibit. I hadn't heard that, but I do hope they keep it open, as it's certainly worth a visit. The building is located in the heart of the French Quarter, just a couple of blocks from Jackson Square.
Written 5 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
poortrvler
Seattle, WA350 contributions
May 2013 • Family
The fact that you can tour the second oldest surviving building in Nola--a National Historic Landmark and property of the Louisiana State Museum--for free automatically makes this a must see and a best value, even if there were nothing in it.
The building that stands today was constructed in 1788, and gained the name Madame John’s Legacy in the late nineteenth century, after a character in George Washington Cable’s story "Tite Poulette." It is more typical of the simple style of the French West Indies than that of the Spanish colonial period, characterized by ornate, lacy wrought iron balconies.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I preferred it without furnishings. The impression of age will hit you immediately, as you'll notice creaking wood floors and a fireplace in nearly every room. There's excellent reading material on the walls that give you a chronological history of the house's ownership, as well as early pieces and descriptions of Newcomb Pottery. Head downstairs and stroll through the courtyard (a workspace and garden once used for household chores/laundry), and then go through the storeroom basement. Then cross the courtyard, up the stairs, and peer into the servant's quarters.
The building that stands today was constructed in 1788, and gained the name Madame John’s Legacy in the late nineteenth century, after a character in George Washington Cable’s story "Tite Poulette." It is more typical of the simple style of the French West Indies than that of the Spanish colonial period, characterized by ornate, lacy wrought iron balconies.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I preferred it without furnishings. The impression of age will hit you immediately, as you'll notice creaking wood floors and a fireplace in nearly every room. There's excellent reading material on the walls that give you a chronological history of the house's ownership, as well as early pieces and descriptions of Newcomb Pottery. Head downstairs and stroll through the courtyard (a workspace and garden once used for household chores/laundry), and then go through the storeroom basement. Then cross the courtyard, up the stairs, and peer into the servant's quarters.
Written 13 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shannhugo440
Halifax, Canada335 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
This place is not a quintessential stop in a New Orleans trip, but seeing that it is a free attraction, so it's is a good spot to go if you have time to kill. It has several displays of pottery, which are quite pretty. There is also a bit on architecture and how the city used to look like before and after a couple fires. There are a couple nice spots where you can see the courtyard in behind and on the balcony there is some nice buildings to take pictures of/with. It isn't that busy, but again for a free attraction it is at least somewhat interesting. The state museums are all well maintained and presented, and it does stay within this and packs a good bit of history into the small site.
Written 29 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline L
Los Angeles, CA2,621 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
Free and open to the public. Chances are you’ll cross this in your exploration of the French quarter so why not have a look. It doesn’t take but about 10 minutes to see everything and the courtyard is beautiful. Great photo op with nice scenery in background. Although they do not let you go into the courtyard so you can take photos on balcony. Small pottery collection and history of building. Great break from souvenir shops
Written 1 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SimbiPetwo
New Orleans, LA167 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
This museum is free and in the heart of the French Quarter. Site of scenes in Interview with a Vampire, Jonah Hex, and many more.
Written 26 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rusalka13
White Plains, NY3 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
This is a very special place in the heart of the French Quarter. We just happened to be passing on the street and walked in. It dates from the 1780s and the history and features were well described. Right now (March 2017) there is also an interesting exhibition of Newcomb Pottery of New Orleans from the 1880s-1940s.Also, it is a free museum but not handicapped accessible.
Written 28 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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