In the heart of the French Quarter, behind ornate cast-iron balconies on Jackson Square, a perfectly preserved antebellum townhouse waits to transport you back to New Orleans at its most prosperous.

Welcome to the 1850 House, where mid-nineteenth-century New Orleans comes alive through carefully arranged parlors, bedrooms, and dining spaces. Part of the Louisiana State Museum, this row house at 523 St. Ann Street offers something many museums cannot: an intimate glimpse into how real families lived, worked, and entertained during the city's golden age.

The home sits within the iconic Lower Pontalba Building, its distinctive "A and P" monogrammed railings catching afternoon light just as they did over 170 years ago.

A Baroness's Vision

The story begins with Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, daughter of Don Andres Almonester, a Spanish colonial landowner who built much of Jackson Square's defining architecture. Inspired by Parisian elegance, the Baroness commissioned the Upper and Lower Pontalba Buildings in 1850, creating sixteen separate residences above ground-floor shops.

She engaged noted architect James Gallier, Sr., though she dismissed him before construction and worked with builder Samuel Stewart instead. The buildings, completed between 1849 and 1851, quickly became New Orleans's most fashionable address. Philanthropist William Ratcliff Irby purchased the Lower Pontalba in 1921 and bequeathed it to the State Museum in 1927.

Furnishings of Prosperity

The 1850 House showcases authentic period pieces reflecting the rococo revival, Gothic revival, and classical revival styles popular in mid-nineteenth-century New Orleans. A stunning six-piece bedroom suite attributed to Prudent Mallard's warerooms commands attention, made originally for Mrs. Magin Puig of Royal Street.

Old Paris porcelain graces dining tables, while locally crafted New Orleans silver reflects the city's thriving artisan culture. Works by French-trained artists who settled in New Orleans hang throughout, alongside furnishings from celebrated makers like William McCracken, J & JW Meeks, and Cornelius & Baker.

Living History in the French Quarter

Unlike house museums dedicated to single families, the 1850 House represents the transient prosperity of New Orleans itself. City directories reveal that merchant families like the Sorias and the Cammacks rented here, each household averaging nine residents including children, enslaved people, and servants.

The arrangement reflects how the Cammack family lived from 1853 to 1856, with upstairs parlors and bedrooms complemented by a back wing that served as workspace and servants' quarters. Visitors can explore at their own pace through self-directed viewing or join limited docent-led tours that bring these spaces to life with stories of the people who called them home.

1850 House Highlights & Tips

• Prudent Mallard Bedroom Suite The magnificent six-piece bedroom set with half-tester bed, duchesse dressing table, and mirror-faced armoires represents the finest of New Orleans craftsmanship.
• Pontalba Balconies The cast-iron railings with their distinctive 'A and P' monograms honor the Almonester and Pontalba families who shaped Jackson Square's architectural identity.
• French-Trained Artwork Paintings by artists like Aimable Desire Lansot and François Bernard show the cultural connections between New Orleans and France during the antebellum period.
• Combine with Walking Tours French Quarter walking tours operated by the Friends of the Cabildo include free admission to the 1850 House, offering excellent value and historical context.
• Prime Location Located directly on Jackson Square at 523 St. Ann Street, the house sits in the heart of the French Quarter's most historic and walkable area.
• Visit the Museum Store The 1850 House Museum Store on the ground floor offers handmade local art, jewelry, and books on New Orleans history, with proceeds supporting the Louisiana State Museum.
• Viewing Options Choose between self-directed exploration at your own pace or limited docent and curator-led tours for deeper insights into the house and its history.

The 1850 House offers something increasingly rare: an unvarnished window into everyday life during a specific moment in American history. Here, you won't find the grand mansions of plantation owners, but rather the comfortable, stylish homes of merchant families who built New Orleans into a commercial powerhouse.

As you walk through rooms where the Cammack daughters once gathered and where William G. Hewes discussed railroad business, the realities of nineteenth-century life, both its elegance and its moral complexities, become tangible. It's history you can almost touch.