Located on popular Jackson Square, theCabildo has had many uses over the years. It’s been the seat of government inNew Orleans, a courthouse, a prison and a city hall. Considered one of the mostimportant historical buildings in all of New Orleans, the Cabildo forms part ofthe 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. TheCabildo, which is Spanish for city hall, was completed in 1799 during the eraof Spanish occupation. It was severely damaged by fire in 1988 but waspainstakingly rebuilt and reopened in 1994.
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.
It would be easy tospend an entire day at the Cabildo if you read all the documents on display. Aquicker stroll through the exhibits can also be made in two to three hours. Themuseum focuses on local history through the ages and it regularly holds specialexhibitions that highlight a particular period of history.
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.
