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Historic New Orleans Collection Turns 60

August 25, 2026 | New Orleans

Here’s to 60 Years of New Orleans Stories

 

If you love New Orleans history—and around here, that covers just about all of us—there’s a big birthday coming up in the French Quarter.

The Historic New Orleans Collection is turning 60, and they’re celebrating with “Cheers to 60 Years!” on Thursday, October 29.

Founded in 1966 by General and Mrs. L. Kemper Williams, HNOC has grown from a private collection into one of the city’s great cultural treasures. Today, it’s a museum, research center and publisher with the world’s largest collection of materials devoted to the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South.

And one of our favorite things about it? The museum is free.

Spread across historic buildings on Royal and Chartres streets, HNOC is home to everything from rare manuscripts and photographs to fascinating exhibitions that tell the complicated, colorful and endlessly interesting story of this part of the world. It’s also constantly evolving, with new exhibitions, cultural partnerships and digital projects that make New Orleans history easier for everyone to explore.

Raise a Glass to 60 Years

The anniversary celebration kicks off with a patron party at 6 p.m., followed by the main event at 7 p.m. Expect cocktails, food from favorite New Orleans restaurants, live music and a silent auction—all in support of an institution that has spent six decades making sure our stories aren’t forgotten.

Tickets start at $125.

Whether you’re a lifelong local, a serious history buff or simply someone who can’t get enough of New Orleans, this seems like a pretty good reason to raise a glass.

Cheers to 60 More.

For tickets and more information, visit hnoc.org.