Friends of the Cabildo

Beside Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans, The Cabildo is a state museum and National Historic Landmark originally built by the Spanish in the late 1790s, after the city burned in the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788. The Cabildo was originally the home of the city council under Spanish rule.

The building is renowned for being the location where the Louisiana Purchase was finalized in 1803, doubling the size of the United States. The building was designed by Gilberto Guillemard, a French architect who also designed the adjacent structures, St. Louis Cathedral and the Presbytere.

Parking and public transportation
Parking in the French Quarter is tough and not recommended for visitors due to traffic and difficulty navigating narrow streets. You may find free street parking on Esplanade Avenue or in the Marigny east of the French Quarter, though this is about a 10 minute walk away.

If you're coming from Canal St., walk or grab a pedicab along Chartres St. to St. Peter St., where Jackson Square begins. The Cabildo will be on the left.

Best and worst time to go
Artists, buskers and visitors make Jackson Square a thriving place most of the time, but as far as visiting the museum goes, on weekdays The Cabildo should be less busy.

Admission
The Cabildo is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed on Mondays and state holidays. Admission prices can be found at The Cabildo's website.

Must see/do at The Cabildo
See Napoleon Bonaparte's death mask, which was made from a mold cast by one of his doctors. Also, don't miss the drum played by Jordan Noble in the Battle of New Orleans. Noble was a freed slave who served in the U.S. Army under General Andrew Jackson and whose drum beats helped the Americans turn back the British troops.

Other places to visit nearby
Be sure to visit 1850 House, a museum store run by nonprofit volunteer group Friends of The Cabildo, from where you can take a guided walking tour of the French Quarter to hear more about the city's fascinating past.

Insider tip for visitors
Don't miss Cafe du Monde, the quintessential round-the-clock provider of chicory-scented cafe au lait and sugar-powdered beignets (fresh-made donuts). It's on the river side of Jackson Square. You can see the donuts being made by hand through the window at the back of the cafe.

Author's bio: Bill T. is a writer and photographer who has called New Orleans home for the last three years and is still exploring the city. He has previously written for newspapers and blogs.