Preservation Hall

Preservation Hall, at 726 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, is a small, historic venue dedicated to preserving and presenting traditional New Orleans jazz. The building dates to the late 1700s, and the hall began hosting informal jam sessions in the early 1960s, evolving into the nightly concerts that continue today. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, formed in the 1960s, tours worldwide and also performs in the hall. Visitors see short, acoustic sets of about 45 minutes in a rustic room with wooden benches, worn walls and no amplification, which gives the music an intimate and immediate character. Concerts are held nightly, with several sets in the evening, typically between about 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Tickets vary by seating, with reserved seats, benches and standing-room options, and cost about $40 to $65 depending on the section. Advance booking on preservationhall.com is advised, since popular shows sell out. The room is small, which means arriving early to secure seating and a good view is important, and there is no bar or food service inside. Visitors can wait outside in the courtyard area before the show. The visit takes about one hour. Crowds are largest on weekends and during festivals, and standing-room spots are limited. For photography, policies have varied, and visitors should check current rules, as some sets restrict photos and recording to preserve the experience. The venue is a five-minute walk from Jackson Square and a fifteen-minute walk from Canal Street. Many visitors choose an early set, then continue to dinner on Royal or Chartres Street. The hall is a rare chance to hear traditional jazz played by working musicians in a setting that has changed little for decades, and it is often cited as one of the essential New Orleans music experiences.