Beyond the French Quarter: New Orleans' Hidden Museum and Sculpture Garden Treasures

Most visitors to New Orleans never venture beyond the well-worn paths of the French Quarter and Garden District. But for those willing to explore, the city offers an extraordinary collection of museums and sculpture gardens that reveal layers of culture, history, and artistic vision you won't find anywhere else in the South.

During my time there along the Mississippi River, I've discovered that New Orleans' museum scene is as complex and surprising as the city itself—where classical meets contemporary, where local folk traditions stand alongside international masterpieces, and where sculpture gardens become stages for both art and life.