Louisiana is a state steeped in soul, humming with history, music, mystery, and flavor in its small towns. From the jazz-filled streets of New Orleans to the bayous and salt domes of the south, the state’s museums don’t just preserve the past; they celebrate it in bold, colorful, and unexpected ways. Whether you’re drawn to voodoo rituals, true crime, spicy bottles of Tabasco, or epic stories of World War II, Louisiana’s museums capture the eccentric spirit that makes the state unlike anywhere else in the US. Here are seven of the best museums in Louisiana you won’t want to miss.
Tabasco Museum, Avery Island
Avery Island is technically a salt dome about three miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by bayous and marshes in southern Louisiana. It is world-famous as the home of Tabasco sauce, where the McIlhenny family has been making it since the 1860s. The piquant mecca features a variety of experiences, some of which need to be booked in advance. The basic “Avery Island Experience” is a self-guided 10-stop tour that takes you through the buildings on the island, like the Tabasco Country Store and Restaurant 1868!, followed by a walk through the 170-acre Jungle Gardens.
In Jungle Gardens, take time to visit the other attractions, including Bird City, a vast protected rookery sheltering thousands of birds, or wander through some of the oldest bamboo groves in the US, or the coastal marshes, home to wild cats, coyotes, alligators, armadillos, and many others.