The Oldest Building In Louisiana Was Used As A Hospital, A Convent, And A School For Girls

Located in the French Quarter just steps away from the Mississippi River, the Old Ursuline Convent isn’t just the oldest building in Louisiana, but the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley. Today, the historic building is a shining example of French neoclassical architecture and serves as a museum with both permanent and rotating exhibits to showcase Louisiana’s past. Let’s check it out:

The first building was designed in 1727 and completed in 1733.

It was designed specifically for the Ursuline nuns who had come from the Ursuline Convent of Rouen (Normandy) who came over to found the convent, run a hospital, and start a school for young girls. Keep in mind that Louisiana was under French rule at the time.

Unfortunately, the first building’s design wasn’t the best for the humid New Orleans climate, and the timbered walls of the convent quickly deteriorated by 1745 and a new building was planned.

Extra care was taken to make sure the construction could stand up to Louisiana’s climate, and the new convent was completed by 1753, and that’s the building we have today.

The nuns lived in the convent until 1824, when they moved into a new building in the 9th Ward, and the old building was reserved for the archbishop.

It’s considered to be the finest surviving example of French colonial architecture in the United States.

Today, the Old Ursuline Convent serves as a museum, preserving some of Louisiana's most precious artifacts.

Together, the Old Ursuline Convent, St. Mary's Church, and the St. Louis Cathedral form the Catholic Cultural Heritage Center of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Guided tours of all three are available upon request.

As you wander through the exhibits, you'll have a better understanding of both French and Spanish influences that shaped the Crescent City.

Whether you're visiting New Orleans for the first time or a long-time local, this museum is a must-see.

The museum is open four days a week, and tickets are less than $10.

Visit the Old Ursuline Convent website for more information, and while you're in the area, be sure to take a tour of the St. Louis Cathedral. It's one of the most photographed cathedrals in the country!