The converted warehouse in the Bywater neighborhood features 35,000 feet of gallery space. The Studio Be arts venue does everything on a grand scale. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, visitors can tour the museum daily, and join one of its haunted cemetery walking tours.

The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum was founded in 1972 as a repository for Voodoo-related artifacts and objects that tell the story of its long history in the Crescent City. The Historic Voodoo Museum is one of the best spots in New Orleans where the public can learn about the real history of Voodoo in New Orleans. Soak up some history while sipping on a cold cocktail, and raise a toast to the pirate brothers. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is still going strong today as a piano bar and one of the French Quarter’s most famous haunts. The Lafitte brothers allegedly planned their many exploits at the shop, which in the 1940s became a café popular with local artists.

Lafitte’s is named for Pierre Lafitte, a blacksmith and brother of pirate and Battle of New Orleans hero Jean Lafitte. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, established in 1772 and housed inside a building dating to 1720, sits at the far end of Bourbon Street, where crowds are a little more dispersed and the vibe takes on more of a “neighborhood” feel. It’s fitting that Louisiana’s oldest bar is located on its most famous street. Past performers have included GRAMMY® Award winners Wilco and local legends Tank & the Bangas. Perhaps the best way to experience The Music Box Village is during one of its concerts, when artists use the DIY instruments on site.

It’s open to the public for tours, where visitors are invited to tinker around themselves. That is the concept behind The Music Box Village. Step inside one and find an assortment of homemade musical instruments that are built into the buildings themselves. Imagine a sculpture garden in a little-visited section of one of New Orleans’ oldest neighborhoods, populated with an assortment of artistic shacks and tiny homes made with recycled materials.

New orleans hidden gems