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Dating back to the 1800s, the Arts & Warehouse District was originally a patchwork of foundry space and industrial buildings supporting the port city. Over the years, changes in commerce slowed the area until, in the mid-1970s, when the Contemporary Arts Center opened. Artists began using the dormant manufacturing spaces for galleries, and to store and showcase their artwork all along Julia Street. Fast-forward to the present day, and the Arts & Warehouse District is a thriving bohemian haven for the city’s creativity.

There are over 25 galleries throughout the Arts & Warehouse District, featuring an endless array of contemporary artists and their works. Crowds come in droves to check out the latest exhibits, along with popular museums, live entertainment, coffee shops, and quirky bookstores, all situated behind aged brick buildings and wall murals along the Mississippi River.

Exciting nightlife abounds here, offering visitors a more unique New Orleans experience. Live music venues like Howlin’ Wolf and Republic bring in up-and-coming performers from bluegrass bands to hip hop groups. The Rusty Nail beer garden provides a great ambiance in its outdoor courtyard, while Barcadia’s combined bar and video arcade is a boozy blast from the past. For the best of both worlds, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art hosts a weekly happy hour featuring live shows and interviews with local musicians. Whatever your artistic tastes may be, there is always something interesting to do in the Arts & Warehouse District.