Visiting the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum

So much comes to mind when thinking about New Orleans. It’s a city that’s known for its Mari Gras celebrations, vibrant music scene, and delicious cuisine. Of course, another element that makes up its rich tapestry is Voodoo. During my visit to the Crescent City, I was curious to learn more about this religion and was excited to be able to visit the New Orleans History Voodoo Museum.

Entrance to the museum

The Voodoo Museum, nestled in the city’s French Quarter, was founded in 1972 and remains owned by the same family. It consists of the lobby/gift shop area, with a hallway that connects to two other rooms. Although the museum is of modest size, the space is brimming with all kinds of voodoo-related objects: alters, offerings, paintings, statues, pictures, and more. There’s information about Voodoo spirits, beliefs, and historic figures. Louisiana Voodoo combines traditional African religious beliefs with Roman Catholicism, so you’ll also see imagery and information relating to Catholic saints. Everywhere you look, there is something to catch your interest.

One display that I especially liked was the near life size figure of a creature known as a rougarou. These beings exist in Cajun folklore and originate from the French loup-garou – meaning werewolf. These New World werewolves supposedly roam the bayous and are a source of fear for misbehaving children and Catholics who are not honoring Lent. While the rougarou traditionally has the head of a dog or wolf, the one at the Voodoo Museum is topped by an alligator head!

Interior image of museum with rougarou present

Note the rougarou

If you’re interesting in visiting the museum, you’ll want to consult their official website for ticket prices, hours of operation, etc. Standard admission will allow for a self-guided tour. They also offer a guided tour, which includes surrounding sites. I went on the guided tour, myself, and found it very informative.

The museum has an atmosphere that is quite distinctive and uniquely New Orleans. It provides an opportunity to learn about Voodoo and see actual objects related to this spiritual practice. I certainly had an interesting and enjoyable experience.