Old U.S. Mint

The Old U.S. Mint, at 400 Esplanade Avenue at the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Greek Revival building constructed in the mid-1830s and opened in 1838 as a branch of the United States Mint. It struck coins from 1838 until 1861, when Louisiana seceded, and it is the only building in the country to have produced both United States and Confederate coinage; the Confederate States briefly operated the facility and produced a small number of half dollars before shutting down for lack of bullion. Union forces occupied the building during the Civil War, and in 1862 a man named William Mumford was hanged from a flagpole here for tearing down the American flag. The Mint resumed coin production from 1879 until 1909, then served as a federal prison, a Coast Guard station and a storage facility. The building was restored by the Louisiana State Museum and now operates as a museum and performance space, home to the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Architecturally it is a three-storey brick structure with a stuccoed facade, Ionic columns and a central portico, built around an interior courtyard. Exhibits trace the history of coinage and the building, with a collection of original coin presses and numismatic displays, alongside galleries devoted to the history of jazz. These include instruments, photographs and memorabilia connected with New Orleans musicians, interpreted in a thematic arrangement that follows the music from its roots to the present. The building also hosts concerts and events, including programming during the French Quarter Festival and Satchmo Summer Fest. Restoration has included structural work and gallery upgrades, and the building is a National Historic Landmark. A visit typically takes 60 to 90 minutes, and the Mint is near the Frenchmen Street music corridor and the French Market.