Behind the iconic cast-iron balconies of Jackson Square lies a perfectly preserved portal to antebellum prosperity, where the daily life of mid-19th century New Orleans unfolds in every room.

Welcome to the 1850 House, where time stopped at the height of New Orleans' golden age. Nestled at 523 St. Ann Street in the heart of the French Quarter, this meticulously furnished row house offers something rare: an authentic glimpse into how well-to-do merchants and their families actually lived during the city's most prosperous era.

Part of the Louisiana State Museum since 1927, this antebellum residence stands as one of the most intact examples of mid-19th century domestic life in the South.

A Baroness's Grand Vision

The story begins with Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, daughter of Don Andres Almonester, a wealthy Spanish colonial landowner. Fresh from Paris and inspired by the grand architecture she'd seen there, the Baroness commissioned the Upper and Lower Pontalba Buildings in 1849-1851.

She initially hired noted architect James Gallier, Sr., though she dismissed him before construction began and employed Samuel Stewart as builder. The distinctive "A and P" monograms adorning the cast-iron railings still honor the Almonester and Pontalba families. Each building contained sixteen separate residences upstairs, with shops occupying the ground floors, creating fashionable mixed-use spaces that attracted New Orleans' merchant class.

Period Furnishings Tell Daily Stories

The house showcases domestic goods, decorative arts, and furniture representing the rococo revival, Gothic revival, and classical revival styles popular in the 1850s. Among the treasures is a magnificent six-piece bedroom suite attributed to Prudent Mallard's warerooms, originally made for Mrs. Magin Puig of Royal Street.

Visitors encounter Old Paris porcelain gracing dining tables, New Orleans silver reflecting local craftsmanship, and furnishings by prestigious makers like William McCracken and J & JW Meeks. Paintings by French-trained artists who migrated to New Orleans adorn the walls, including works by Aimable Desire Lansot and François Bernard.

Living History, Not Just One Story

Unlike many historic houses that preserve one family's legacy, the 1850 House represents something more complex: the fluid, transient nature of urban life. City directories reveal that families like the Sorias, merchants from New York, and William G. Hewes, a bank president and railroad magnate, called this address home for just a few years at a time.

The arrangement roughly corresponds to how the Cammack family lived here from 1853 to 1856. An average of nine residents occupied each dwelling, including children, enslaved people, and servants. The back wing, called the "kitchen building," served multiple purposes from storage to additional housing, revealing the full complexity of antebellum household operations.

1850 House Highlights & Tips

• Prudent Mallard Bedroom Suite Don't miss the stunning six-piece bedroom suite with its impressive half-tester bed, duchesse dressing table, and mirror-faced armoires, attributed to one of New Orleans' most celebrated furniture makers.
• Cast-Iron Balcony Details Look closely at the railings to spot the intertwined 'A and P' monograms honoring the Almonester and Pontalba families who created these iconic buildings.
• The Kitchen Building The back wing offers insight into the working side of antebellum households, where enslaved people and servants lived and worked alongside the merchant families.
• Tour Options Available Choose between limited docent and curator-led tours for deeper insights, or explore at your own pace with self-directed viewing.
• French Quarter Walking Tour Package Consider the French Quarter walking tour offered by Friends of the Cabildo, which includes free admission to the 1850 House Museum along with a comprehensive neighborhood tour.
• Prime Jackson Square Location The museum's position on Jackson Square makes it easy to combine with visits to other Louisiana State Museum properties like the Cabildo and Presbytere.
• Museum Store on Ground Floor The 1850 House Museum Store on the ground floor offers handmade art by local artists, history books, and exhibit-related merchandise, with proceeds supporting the Louisiana State Museum.

The 1850 House succeeds where many historic homes fall short: it honestly depicts both the elegance and the uncomfortable realities of antebellum life. The carefully chosen furnishings don't just fill rooms; they tell stories of prosperity built on complex moral foundations, of merchant families chasing opportunity, of daily routines both upstairs and down.

Standing in these rooms, surrounded by rococo revival furniture and Old Paris porcelain, you experience more than museum displays. You witness the peak of New Orleans' economic power and the diverse lives that intersected within these walls, making history tangible in the heart of the French Quarter.