1850 House

Located within the Lower Pontalba Building on Jackson Square, this rowhouse serves as a deliberate window into the mid-19th century. The interior centers on the legacy of the Baroness de Pontalba, who directed the building’s construction, while also documenting the lives of those who occupied the space, from enslaved workers to Irish immigrant servants. The rooms are furnished with period-appropriate decorative objects made in New Orleans and a kitchen featuring a functional cast-iron range. As a quiet contrast to the activity of the square, the museum provides a self-guided look at residential life through informative signage that details the daily experiences of the era's diverse inhabitants.