New Orleans, LA

Preservation Jazz Hall
DESCRIPTION: Since it first opened its doors in 1961, PJH has been a must visit in the French Quarter; see, hear and feel great traditional New Orleans jazz played here; no smoking or alcoholic drinking on the premises since all ages welcome to appreciate one of America's greatest art forms
ADMISSION: $10
DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sun 8p-11p; music begins 8:15p
ADDRESS: 726 St. Peter Street  MAP
PARKING: French Quarter garages
TRANSIT: Riverwalk Streetcar is 3 blocks to the southeast and Canal Streetcar a few blocks to the southwest
PHONE: 504-522-2841
WEBSITE: http://www.preservationhall.com

Williams Research Center
DESCRIPTION: Don't let the traditional French Quarter entrance fool you, located within, Historic New Orleans Collection is an expansive set of documents and artifacts that chronicle African American achievements in the city
ADMISSION: donations requested
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 9:30a-4:30p
ADDRESS: 533 Royal Street  MAP
PARKING: French Quarter garages
TRANSIT: Riverwalk Streetcar 3 blocks to the southeast and Canal Streetcar 4 blocks to the southwest
PHONE: 504-523-4662
WEBSITE: http://www.hnoc.org

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation
DESCRIPTION: Organizers of the fantastic New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Blues Festival; features a strong educational component and a musicians housing; keep jazz alive with a visit and a monetary or musical donation
ADMISSION: donations requested
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 9a-5p, plus special events
ADDRESS: 1205 North Rampart Street  MAP
PARKING: on street
TRANSIT: Riverwalk Streetcar is 6 blocks to the south
PHONE: 504-522-4786
WEBSITE: http://www.nojhf.org

African American Museum
DESCRIPTION: Housed in a beautiful Creole Villa with garden, the museum preserves and promotes African American history of the community via a wide range of art and education programs by and for the African diaspora; exhibits change regularly; the villa retains many of its original decorative details from the early 1800s and includes: Louisiana-Congo, a collection of exquisite African beadwork, costumes, masks, textiles, musical instruments and divination objects as a major part of the museum's permanent collection; small admission fee with limited parking on the street
ADMISSION: $5 adults, $3 students and seniors; $2 ages 6-12
DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sat 11a-4p
ADDRESS: 1418 Governor Nicholls Street  MAP
PARKING: on street
TRANSIT: catch a bus running on Esplanade
PHONE: 504-566-1136
WEBSITE: website

Backstreet Cultural Museum
DESCRIPTION: Features permanent exhibits on Mardi Gras Indians, Traditional Jazz Funerals and Second Line Parades in an earthy neighborhood setting; request a guided tour for a richer experience; educational workshops, video presentations, lectures and a few live performances add to the fun; donations appreciated
ADMISSION: fee
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 1116 St. Claude Street  MAP
PARKING: on street
TRANSIT: catch a bus on Esplanade
PHONE: 504-522-4806
WEBSITE: http://www.backstreetmuseum.org

Black Collegian Magazine
DESCRIPTION: New Orleans is the national headquarters for this respected and award winning publication was founded in 1970; a career development magazine, it is distributed on over 800 campuses nationwide and their website has a wealth of resources too
ADMISSION: appt only
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 9a-5p
ADDRESS: 909 Poydras Street  MAP
PARKING: downtown garages and lots  nearby
TRANSIT: Canal Streetcar is 4 blocks to the northwest
PHONE: 504-523-0154
WEBSITE: http://www.Black-Collegian.com

William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive
DESCRIPTION: A treasure trove collection of jazz recordings, sheet music, photos of jazz musicians; get your background on the history of jazz here
ADMISSION: donations requested
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 9a-4:45p
ADDRESS: Tulane University, Jones Hall, 7001 Freret Street  MAP
PARKING: on premises
TRANSIT: St. Charles Streetcar line
PHONE: 504-865-5688
WEBSITE: http://www.tulane.edu/~lmiller/JazzHome.html

Amistad Research Center
DESCRIPTION: In 1966 the American Missionary Association founded this center which arguably contains one of the nation's largest set of manuscripts about African American race relations and the civil rights movement; some materials date back to the1700s and they come from the lower 48 states; there's a model of La Amistad ship and the most comprehensive information about the Amistad uprising, as portrayed in a Hollywood movie Amistad
ADMISSION: free, but donations requested
DAYS& HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30a-4:30p
ADDRESS: Tulane University, Tilton Hall, 6823 St. Charles Ave  MAP
PARKING: on premises
TRANSIT: St. Charles Streetcar line
PHONE: 504-865-5535
WEBSITE: http://www.amistadresearchcenter.org

Xavier University
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1915 by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament under Mother Katherine Drexel; it is historically famous because it is the only African American Roman Catholic University in the western hemisphere
ADMISSION: no fees
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 7325 Palmetto Street  MAP
PARKING: on premises
TRANSIT: local bus line
PHONE: 504-486-7411
WEBSITE: http://www.xula.edu

Dillard University
DESCRIPTION: This beautiful campus is a private liberal arts college founded 1869; the current college name resulted from a merger between Straight University and Union Norman - it was named after distinguished educator Dr James Hardy Dillard; this accredited college for 1,600 students features six academic divisions and more than 30 majors; a trendsetter with its Upward Bound program that targets disadvantaged high school students who show potential for college level work; home to the unique National Center for Black-Jewish Relations
ADMISSION: no fees
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 2601 Gentilly Blvd  MAP
PARKING: on premises
TRANSIT: local bus line
PHONE: 504-286-4666
WEBSITE: http://www.dillard.edu

Southern University at New Orleans
DESCRIPTION: This 17-acre site near Lake Pontchartrain opened in 1959 as an extension to Southern University in Baton Rouge; Jazz historians should also check out the Institute for Innovative Jazz and Performing Arts
ADMISSION: no fees
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 6400 Press Drive  MAP
PARKING: on premises
TRANSIT: local bus line
PHONE: 504-286-5000
WEBSITE: http://www.suno.edu