NEW ORLEANS (press release) – A new, interactive museum that explores the colorful and storied past of New Orleans is now open in the French Quarter. The New Orleans Storyville Museum, which opened last week at 1010 Conti St., is 7,000 square feet of vibrant exhibits that showcase the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans and its infamous red-light district known as Storyville.
Storyville was a raucous neighborhood of music, entertainment, gambling and prostitution that operated in New Orleans from 1897 until 1917. The district was conceived by councilman Sidney Story to clean up prostitution from most neighborhoods in the city and confine it to a district that could be more easily contained and controlled.
The New Orleans Storyville Museum is a passion project for founder and lead curator Claus Sadlier, a successful entrepreneur and New Orleans native. After graduating from Brother Martin High School and the University of New Orleans, Sadlier left the city in the early ’90s to pursue his fortune in San Francisco.
Once he returned, Sadlier became fascinated with the city’s unique and storied past.
“When I moved back, I started to read books about the sinful history of New Orleans and thought it was fascinating,” says Sadlier in a press release.
It’s a story that starts with the city’s founding in 1718, continues through its the golden age of vice in the 1800s and culminates with the establishment of the Storyville district in the early 1900s.
“I thought wow, what an amazing idea for a museum to be dedicated to telling this incredible story as it unfolded,” Sadlier continued.
Museum highlights include immersive sets, engaging videos and hyper-realistic holograms created by local artists and theater professionals. A dedicated section on the early history of jazz and a gallery featuring E.J. Bellocq’s poignant photographs from Storyville illustrate the complex narratives that shaped this extraordinary era.
“At the New Orleans Storyville Museum, we are committed to entertaining educating and informing,” said Sadlier. “Our exhibits not only shine light on the social and economic impacts of the Storyville District but also celebrate the cultural heritage that makes New Orleans unique.”
The museum is now open to the public Thursday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $31.50, and you must be 18 or older to enter. For tickets and information, please visit nolastoryville.com
