Louisiana's Unique Museums and Exhibitions

At a Glance

• Popular unique museums in Louisiana include The Kentwood Museum, Southern Food and Beverage Museum, Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, Capitol Park Museum and the National Hansen's Disease Museum.
• Top hidden gem museums in Louisiana include Tunica-Biloxi Museum, New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, International Petroleum Museum & Exposition, Biedenharn Museum & Gardens and The Abita Mystery House.

In Louisiana, we’re proud of our rich history and colorful culture, so we’ve created many opportunities to preserve the stories of the past with museums and historical sites around the state. However, trying to visit all of our museums could take much longer than your average trip.

Here’s a roundup of our favorites that house some rare or interesting exhibits and artifacts.
 

Interesting Arts & Culture Exhibitions

Kentwood Museum, Kentwood

Kentwood is Britney Spears' hometown, so it’s only fitting for the local museum to pay tribute to her signature glitz and glam. The Kentwood Museum has its own Britney Spears exhibit, featuring a stage replica of her HBO concert special, made with 600 vibrant lights and thousands of intricate parts. Also on display is a replica of Britney's childhood bedroom set along with a variety of memorabilia and awards.

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum, New Orleans

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SoFAB) opened its doors in 2008 and is dedicated to the discovery, understanding and celebration of the food, drink and related culture of the South. At the museum, you’ll learn how food and culture are deeply connected, especially in a Southern state like Louisiana. Exhibits include the Gallery of the South, a Culinary Heritage Sign Gallery and the Museum of the American Cocktail’s (MOTAC) Spirited History of Cocktails collection. Discover why New Orleans’ favorite spirit was banned for almost a century at La Galerie D’Absinthe, then taste some for yourself at the Old Absinthe House less than 2 miles away.

Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, Lake Charles

Step into the world of Mardi Gras when you enter the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu and learn about the history of Mardi Gras and its many towering, sparkling costumes. You’re sure to be inspired to experience a Mardi Gras celebration in Lake Charles. Discover other Mardi Gras museums in Louisiana.

Fascinating History & Science Museums

Capitol Park Museum, Baton Rouge

The Capitol Park Museum showcases thematic exhibits on Louisiana’s history, industry and culture. The museum includes two permanent exhibits: Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation and The Louisiana Experience: Discovering the Soul of America. Imagine yourself on board a 48-foot wooden shrimp trawler or operating a two-row sugar cane harvester. See an oil-well head and a scale model of a drilling rig. Learn about Louisiana’s most important industries — and historical events. Exhibits on slave markets, resistance, revolt and Jim Crow provide a glimpse into the unimaginable plight of people of color in the South. Other highlights include Buddy Guy’s polka-dot Stratocaster guitar and the bugle Louis Armstrong played as a boy.

National Hansen’s Disease Museum, Carville

Located just outside Baton Rouge in this overlooked, unassuming location, hundreds of the nation’s leprosy (Hansen’s disease) patients were banished from society. The complex that once held hundreds of leprosy patients is now the National Hansen’s Disease Museum to remember the story of Hansen’s disease. Visit the beautiful self-sustaining complex and take a tour to discover what life was like for these patients of this rare disease. Admission to the museum and grounds is free, and while you’re in town, take a 20-minute driving audio tour through the Carville Historic District.

Tunica-Biloxi Museum, Marksville

The Tunica-Biloxi Museum houses the “Tunica Treasure” — Native American European trade items and other artifacts that were stolen from the original burial ground by a grave robber in the late 1960s. The entire Cultural & Educational Resource Center measures around 40,000 square feet and includes a conservation and restoration laboratory, gift shop and library. During your visit, wander the Tunica Biloxi Nature Trail to see the area’s natural beauty.

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, New Orleans

The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is located in the 19th-century apothecary of the first U.S. licensed pharmacist, Louis J. Dufilho Jr. Exhibits include questionable medical practices, historic midwifery and obstetrics, voodoo potions and ancient anesthetics. See hand-blown medicine bottles containing early crude drugs, early patent medicines, medical herbs and gris-gris potions used by local voodoo practitioners. Visitors can also see early surgical tools and learn about alternative medicine of the day, such as bloodletting via leeches.

International Petroleum Museum and Exposition, Morgan City

The International Petroleum Museum and Exposition is often simply called the Rig Museum because of Mr. Charlie. This 220-by-85 foot barge drilled for oil in the nearby Gulf from 1954 to 1986, and it was the first fully transportable, submersible drilling rig, revolutionizing global offshore oil exploration and drilling. It is said that Mr. Charlie’s American industrial history significance was so great that the Smithsonian considered displaying it after its retirement. The Smithsonian declined, however, because it had no galleries big enough to house the rig.

Galleries & Other Exhibitions

Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, Monroe

Venture up north for sweet treats at the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens. This property’s namesake, Joseph Biedenharn, was the first person to ever bottle Coca-Cola for public distribution and sale. The museum has an extensive Coca-Cola memorabilia exhibit, including vintage signs and a Model T Coca-Cola delivery truck. Don’t forget to grab a bottle from an original five-cent vending machine! The museum’s Bible exhibit features dozens of rare books, including a page from the 1454-55 Gutenberg Bible.

The Abita Mystery House, Abita Springs

The Abita Mystery House is also known as the UCM (you-see-‘em) Museum, a bizarre collection of oddities, folk art, and homemade inventions. Exhibits include miniature scenes from a jazz funeral and a Mardi Gras parade, as well as thousands of folk art objects ranging from pottery and combs to vintage postcards and license plates. Adjacent to the main gallery (an abandoned vintage gas station) is the glass-adorned and vintage bicycle-filled House of Shards, and throughout the property are sculptures of alligator hybrid animals, including Buford the bassigator and Darrell the dogigator.

More Hidden Gems

Looking for more of Louisiana’s unusual spots? Check out the Gothic Hanging Jail in DeRidder, an architecture marvel suspected to be haunted by former inmates. Walk to Wolf Rock Cave in the Kisatchie National Forest, the only known cave in Louisiana used by early people as a rock shelter. Rent a kayak and paddle to the Castle Tree, a 1,000-year-old cypress tree at Chemin-a-Haut State Park; and stop by Poverty Point World Heritage Site to discover 3,000-year-old Native American mounds and artifacts.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are some of the most unique museums in Louisiana? 

Louisiana is home to museums that go far beyond traditional history exhibits. Visitors can explore everything from the quirky folk art collections at the Abita Mystery House and Britney Spears memorabilia at the Kentwood Museum to historic medical artifacts at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum and an offshore drilling rig at the International Petroleum Museum. 

Which Louisiana museums are best for history lovers? 

History enthusiasts can discover Louisiana's rich past at museums like the Capitol Park Museum, which explores the state's culture and industries, and the Tunica-Biloxi Museum, home to the remarkable Tunica Treasure. Other museums throughout the state highlight topics ranging from Native American heritage and early medicine to Louisiana's role in innovation and commerce.

Are there family-friendly museums in Louisiana? 

Yes! Many Louisiana museums offer interactive exhibits and engaging displays for visitors of all ages. Families can experience hands-on history, outdoor museum gardens, unusual collections and educational exhibits that make learning fun for children and adults alike. 

What kinds of exhibits can you find in Louisiana museums? 

Louisiana museums feature an incredible variety of exhibits, including music history, Mardi Gras traditions, Native American artifacts, culinary heritage, medical history, oil and gas innovation, Coca-Cola memorabilia, folk art and regional culture. Whether you're interested in science, history, art or pop culture, there's a museum to match your interests 

When is the best time to visit museums in Louisiana? 

Museums are excellent year-round attractions and are especially popular during hot summer afternoons or rainy days. Many travelers include museum visits alongside festivals, outdoor adventures and culinary experiences to create a well-rounded Louisiana itinerary.

What are some hidden gem museums to visit in Louisiana?

Some of Louisiana's lesser-known museums include the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens in Monroe, the Kentwood Museum, the Tunica-Biloxi Museum in Marksville and the International Petroleum Museum in Morgan City. These destinations provide memorable experiences that many travelers overlook in favor of larger attractions.

Are there museums in Louisiana that focus on music and pop culture?

Yes. Music lovers can visit the Kentwood Museum to learn about Britney Spears' hometown roots, while other museums across Louisiana celebrate the state's contributions to jazz, blues and other musical traditions.