November 18, 2024
"There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God, I know I'm one."
This popular folk song “House of the Rising Sun” has been a part of the American music scene, performed by many noteworthy artists such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, with probably the most famous version done by The Animals. It talks about a man whose addictions get the better of him in New Orleans.
The song and its subject matter play an important role in a fascinating new museum that has just opened in the Vieux Carre. The New Orleans Storyville Museum opened in the French Quarter recently that brings to life the colorful and storied past of New Orleans through holograms, rare relics, multi-media experiences and informative exhibits. This new, interactive museum, located at 1010 Conti St., is 7,000 square feet of vibrant exhibits that explores the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans and its infamous red-light district known as Storyville.
Founder and lead curator Claus Sadlier is a successful entrepreneur and New Orleans native. Claus graduated from Brother Martin High School and the University of New Orleans, then left the city in the early 90s to pursue his fortune in San Francisco. Among his accomplishments, he invented and commercialized the world’s first insulated paper coffee cup and built it into a successful business, which he ultimately sold to Dixie Cup. But Sadlier’s heart was always in New Orleans, and he returned to his roots in 2013, making his residence in the French Quarter.
Sadlier, fascinated by the subject matter, thoroughly researched, read and studied everything about Storyville. Storyville was a raucous neighborhood of music, entertainment, gambling and prostitution that operated in New Orleans from 1897 until 1917. The district was conceived by councilman Sidney Story to clean up prostitution from most neighborhoods in the city and confine it to a district that could be more easily contained and controlled. The museum offers a comprehensive exploration of the unique history of New Orleans leading up to the creation of the notorious Red-Light District. Their mission is to educate, inform and entertain visitors by offering a vivid glimpse into the fascinating world of New Orleans, from its founding in 1718, through the early 1900s, when the Storyville District flourished as a center of music, entertainment and vice.
But this museum not only highlights New Orleans’ storied past as America’s original Sin City, it sheds light on the social, cultural, and economic impacts of the Storyville District on New Orleans and beyond. From the early days of jazz to the struggles of the individuals who lived and worked in the District, they delve into the complex narratives that shaped this extraordinary era. From rare original copies of the District’s directory of pleasure known as the “Blue Book”, personal letters, photographs and other fascinating relicts from a bygone era, each item in our collection offers a glimpse into the vibrant and often controversial world that once thrived within these streets.
The museum is laid out in sections devoted to a different subject and time period starting with the Founders of New Orleans and the Casket Girls. To get a better understanding of Storyville, the curators wanted to show that this famous area is tied to the city’s founding by Jean-Baptiste de Bienville in 1718. The museum introduces its guests to Storyville through a full-scale map of the United States as divided by its lifeblood and main thoroughfare, the Mississippi River. Bienville asks for France to “send me wives for my men, they are running into the woods after Indian girls.” Women of dubious morality are shipped to New Orleans, including the infamous casket girls who traveled with their belongings in casket-like trunks, one of which is on display.
After that, comes the sections on “WAR, PIRATES & THE SCARLET MIGRATION” all the way through to STORYVILLE SHUT DOWN / STORYVILLE IN THE CINEMA when World War I brings an end to Storyville. The tenderloin district is shut down in 1917, and the back-o’-town area of New Orleans has gone through several transformations over the years since the days of the sex trade empire.
Another memorable exhibit is the E.J. Bellocq Gallery. Much of what is known about Storyville is based on the historic photographs of a professional photographer E.J. Bellocq who lived in New Orleans during the Storyville years and as a hobby, captured the images of the working ladies in various stages of undress. These still images are displayed beautifully in the museum’s gallery dedicated to Bellocq and his hauntingly intimate portraits of the girls posing in relaxed, casual manners.
This museum is made for both locals and visitors alike (ask about the locals discount). It has something for the history enthusiast, music lover, movie buff or just a person interested in this intriguing part of New Orleans’ past. The museum is currently open from Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God, I know I'm one."
This popular folk song “House of the Rising Sun” has been a part of the American music scene, performed by many noteworthy artists such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, with probably the most famous version done by The Animals. It talks about a man whose addictions get the better of him in New Orleans.
The song and its subject matter play an important role in a fascinating new museum that has just opened in the Vieux Carre. The New Orleans Storyville Museum opened in the French Quarter recently that brings to life the colorful and storied past of New Orleans through holograms, rare relics, multi-media experiences and informative exhibits. This new, interactive museum, located at 1010 Conti St., is 7,000 square feet of vibrant exhibits that explores the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans and its infamous red-light district known as Storyville.
Founder and lead curator Claus Sadlier is a successful entrepreneur and New Orleans native. Claus graduated from Brother Martin High School and the University of New Orleans, then left the city in the early 90s to pursue his fortune in San Francisco. Among his accomplishments, he invented and commercialized the world’s first insulated paper coffee cup and built it into a successful business, which he ultimately sold to Dixie Cup. But Sadlier’s heart was always in New Orleans, and he returned to his roots in 2013, making his residence in the French Quarter.
Sadlier, fascinated by the subject matter, thoroughly researched, read and studied everything about Storyville. Storyville was a raucous neighborhood of music, entertainment, gambling and prostitution that operated in New Orleans from 1897 until 1917. The district was conceived by councilman Sidney Story to clean up prostitution from most neighborhoods in the city and confine it to a district that could be more easily contained and controlled. The museum offers a comprehensive exploration of the unique history of New Orleans leading up to the creation of the notorious Red-Light District. Their mission is to educate, inform and entertain visitors by offering a vivid glimpse into the fascinating world of New Orleans, from its founding in 1718, through the early 1900s, when the Storyville District flourished as a center of music, entertainment and vice.
But this museum not only highlights New Orleans’ storied past as America’s original Sin City, it sheds light on the social, cultural, and economic impacts of the Storyville District on New Orleans and beyond. From the early days of jazz to the struggles of the individuals who lived and worked in the District, they delve into the complex narratives that shaped this extraordinary era. From rare original copies of the District’s directory of pleasure known as the “Blue Book”, personal letters, photographs and other fascinating relicts from a bygone era, each item in our collection offers a glimpse into the vibrant and often controversial world that once thrived within these streets.
The museum is laid out in sections devoted to a different subject and time period starting with the Founders of New Orleans and the Casket Girls. To get a better understanding of Storyville, the curators wanted to show that this famous area is tied to the city’s founding by Jean-Baptiste de Bienville in 1718. The museum introduces its guests to Storyville through a full-scale map of the United States as divided by its lifeblood and main thoroughfare, the Mississippi River. Bienville asks for France to “send me wives for my men, they are running into the woods after Indian girls.” Women of dubious morality are shipped to New Orleans, including the infamous casket girls who traveled with their belongings in casket-like trunks, one of which is on display.
After that, comes the sections on “WAR, PIRATES & THE SCARLET MIGRATION” all the way through to STORYVILLE SHUT DOWN / STORYVILLE IN THE CINEMA when World War I brings an end to Storyville. The tenderloin district is shut down in 1917, and the back-o’-town area of New Orleans has gone through several transformations over the years since the days of the sex trade empire.
Another memorable exhibit is the E.J. Bellocq Gallery. Much of what is known about Storyville is based on the historic photographs of a professional photographer E.J. Bellocq who lived in New Orleans during the Storyville years and as a hobby, captured the images of the working ladies in various stages of undress. These still images are displayed beautifully in the museum’s gallery dedicated to Bellocq and his hauntingly intimate portraits of the girls posing in relaxed, casual manners.
This museum is made for both locals and visitors alike (ask about the locals discount). It has something for the history enthusiast, music lover, movie buff or just a person interested in this intriguing part of New Orleans’ past. The museum is currently open from Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
