New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

Normally, you think of a national treasure as a park or lake, but in new orleans, it’s jazz. So, in an unusual move, the government has declared jazz a national park, worthy of national protection. And, in doing so, they hired jazz-​playing park rangers to promote jazz amongst tourists.
We went to the former national mint by frenchmen street in new orleans to enjoy a free afternoon concert led by khaki wearing park rangers. And they were good!
Afterwards, we walked through the free jazz exhibits and learned all about the life of louis armstrong etc.

~~~~~~Free Guided Tours~~~~~~
~~~By National Park Service~~~
~~~Free Jazz Performance~~~
While exploring the French Quarter District, we stumbled across a small building which looked like a visitor’s information center, offering a free guided tour, in 5 minutes!
We watched a short video of a little bit of jazz history on a projection screen before our adventure began. We were given some historical background of life prior to the Louisiana Purchase. Our walking tour had us go through the French Market and into The Old Mint Building, aka The Louisiana Museum. We sat in a little air conditioned room upstairs, listening to live music by a local pianist.
Within the building, there were several rooms set up showcasing old mints, with actual machineries and many photos. There were also rooms set up showcasing several legendary Jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino with pictures and displays of actual musical instruments.
We enjoyed our overall experience the National Park Service provided. It was free but donation’s always welcome. There were several donation boxes set up throughout the building to give you the opportunity to help keep this place running. I’d totally recommend this tour during your trip to NOLA.

The New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park is a unique place. This park is run by National Park Service. I definite like the ranger position here. They are located in the big easy and the work is much easy — no forest fire to worry, big animal attack tourist. The park has ranger program free tour around the French Quarter to the Old US Mint. Now I think more of it, I like the ranger assignment here. May be I should be apply for the special language tour guide.
The park hosts the indoor and outdoor concert. Some concert in the Historic Park, some in the Old Mint, Some in the French Market. Today they have listed two concerts, one in the Historic Park and One in the Old Mint. We have gone to the Historic Park since our time has conflict with the parade for the other concert.
The historic park is hosting a Cajun children Jazz concert. The performer is Johnette Downing. She is author for the children book, children jazz song, and performer of children jazz. It was rewarding that the song actually from food of the children eat in a week. Song like Monday red bean, Tuesday Po-​Boys, Wednesday Gumbo, Thursday Jambalaya, Friday Cat Fish, Saturday Crawfish and Sunday Beignet. She also has song like Mississippi River, Cajun Dance Bonjour, Chef Creole, and Crawfish Song. It makes you think about Louisiana Cuisine.
Please check at the park for the schedule of the day with variety of free concert and location.

The park had neat artwork to look at. It was dispersed throughout the park so there was something to look at as you walk along. There was also a mini history area that has the Holocaust plaques. The body of water there made it seem relaxing. It wasn’t the most pretty body of water, but it was nice nonetheless. And as you walk along, there were people playing music and seemingly enjoying themselves with hope that some change come their way. And in the background, you can see the St. Louis cathedral. The mix of history, modern artwork, and foot traffic of tourists gave this place a unique vibe. Serenity mixed in with a sense of lots more places to go and see (like how the sightseers would think).
There’s also the Jackson Square that’s neat to visit and the St. Louis cathedral beyond that point if you’re still wanting to venture around.

Talk to a park ranger, pick up many self guided walking tour pamphlets, view a screening on jazz, get a stamp for your National Park passport, etc.

This National Historical Park was just okay. You need about ten minutes at most to go in, look at the books, get your national park stamp, and you’re done. They do not have any displays or anything. They do sometimes have live shows that are pretty neat, but a little disappointed over all. I was really hoping for some history of New Orleans jazz!

This is a small, unassuming place on Decatur next to the French Market. I first found it by accident, and when I wandered in without any expectations of what it might be. In my experience, National Parks were, you know, trees and mountains and geysers and stuff. But this place is very cool! The Park Rangers are super friendly and helpful with suggestions on shows to go to. They also put on their own shows both at this location and at the U.S. Mint down the street.
I would suggest stopping by here early in your trip if you’re visiting town, as there’s something a little different every day and you’d hate to miss something really cool! You can pick up brochures or just look at the schedule they have posted inside; even if you just stop by outside they have a chalkboard describing the events for the day.

Cool park that preserves the culture of New Orleans. The visitor center is actually an indoor concert space with a few things for purchase, but the park itself involves going to various locations within New Orleans and checking out jazz concerts, gospel, stage presentations, and other things.
Be ready for lots of walking and if you’re a junior ranger fan, I suggest printing a copy of the book before you head out on vacation. We had to find a place to pay to get it printed.

As always I have a hard time not giving something that is free anything less than 5 stars.
This is a small place near Café Du Monde and the flea market where you can go to watch Jazz movies or shows depending on when you go.

Came here to check out the National Historical Park during our NOLA visit. Glad we did. We found out that they held live performances daily (except for Mondays when they are closed) and we sat in on a traditional jazz pianist and singer. Because of the National Historic Park, we walked up to Armstrong Park (more of that in another review). Just wish we had come sooner that morning to take the historic walking tour.

Our visit to the Jazz National Historical Park was a quirky experience! We stepped in out of an oncoming New Orleans deluge and into, as Lana G. puts it, a nondescript door right off of Decatur, to enjoy a mid-​afternoon concert put on by the ranger-​musicians here.
As we sat in the large air conditioned room, three rangers emerged, sat down at their instruments, and gave a 60 minute program that was half performance, half conversation, half lecture. One played the drums, another the guitar, and a third sang and played the piano. The three led us through all sorts of traditional Cajun, Creole, etc. music in a presentation that was somewhat rambling and disorganized, but no less entertaining.
It was nice to have a somewhat more academic take on some of the music we’d been hearing around town, but at times the acoustics didn’t quite complement the musicians. Audience participation (in the form of questions) was encouraged, to both our appreciation and dismay, and the rangers had surprisingly detailed answers ready for any questions the group tossed up onto the stage.
All in all, the concert made for a nice change of pace, a good afternoon rest, was air conditioned, educational, and free, and those things are pretty hard to beat. Additionally, it’s music you don’t need to be 21 to hear, which can be hard to find at times in the Crescent City.
However, I get the sense that the performances are a bit hit-​or-​miss, and any visitor has to realize that these folks are probably rangers first, musicians second. As long as you can find a concert that interests you, it’s probably worth stopping by New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.

In the French Quarter, near the railroad tracks, behind and between Café Du Monde and the French Market, you’ll find a nondescript building that houses a local craft gallery and, next to the gallery, a nondescript door with a National Park Service sign next to it. Viola! You’ve found the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park!
You won’t find any greenery in this park. Instead, you’ll find a desk with a receptionist who offers information, a couple of brochures and, for purchase, a rack of jazz recordings.
Past the reception area, you’ll find a small auditorium where you can hear live music performances, mostly jazz, some of it by guest artists and some by, yes, National Park Service Rangers! They’re all first-​rate musicians and, in addition to the music, they offer a running commentary on the history and development of jazz.
These concerts are free to the public. They are a «must-​hear» in New Orleans. Call or walk in for the schedule, or go to the website,
.