The Cabildo and Presbytere

The Cabildo and the Presbytere are twin Spanish colonial buildings flanking St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square at 701 Chartres Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Both are operated by the Louisiana State Museum and are among the most historically important buildings in the city. The Cabildo, completed in 1799, was the seat of Spanish colonial government and hosted the 1803 ceremony transferring Louisiana from France to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. Its museum covers Louisiana history from colonial days through Reconstruction, with artifacts including the death mask of Napoleon, portraits, maps, and documents. The Presbytere, begun in the 1790s and completed in the 1800s, was built to mirror the Cabildo and today houses exhibits on Mardi Gras and on Hurricane Katrina. The Mardi Gras exhibit features costumes, floats, masks and beads that explain the carnival's krewes and traditions, while the Katrina exhibit, Living with Hurricanes, tells the story of the 2005 storm and the city's recovery through photographs, artifacts and personal accounts. Most visitors spend one to two hours in each building, and many do both in a half day, with the combination ticket offering a modest discount. The museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Monday, so confirming hours at louisianastatemuseum.org is advisable. Crowds are lightest on weekday mornings and heavier on weekends and during Carnival season. Photography without flash is typically allowed, and the arched arcades facing Jackson Square provide a handsome backdrop for photographs. The buildings are a short walk from Canal Street and reachable by the Riverfront streetcar to Jackson Square. Visitors often combine the visit with the cathedral, the Pontalba Buildings and a stroll to the French Market.