Creole Kids Tour

The Creole Kids Tour is an invitation to the past! 

New Orleans is like no other city in America- and this tour is like no other tour you’ve taken.

Beginning along the Mississippi River, kids will share what they already know about this area with a guided brainstorming of common facts. The tour jumps off from there, immediately adapting to the kids’ ages, interests, background knowledge- and energy.

From there you will be guided along the riverfront and scenic overlooks before entering Jackson Square. Kids will interact with 300 year old maps and current maps, examples of our cash crops, and a timeline of New Orleans settlement. Families will learn about our vulnerable coastline and the challenges that arise when building a city at / below sea level. You will learn some of the causes and effects of Hurricane Katrina- as well as the countless other hurricanes in the city's past.

And then it gets silly. With kids, that’s inevitable. Kids will hear – and try out- some of the more obscure lessons of the past. They will come to understand- in a very tangible way- why the invention of medicine is something we should celebrate. Kids will discover why we should be grateful for things as simple as sitting down and breathing. It wasn’t always so easy and kids will find that out!

Spreading out from Jackson Square, you will see beautiful apartments built by the city’s 19th century benefactress. You will walk down alleyways leading to the old ballroom- and the old dungeon. Along the way, kids will hear about specific residents who made their mark on not just New Orleans’ history but world history. In addition, kids will learn about New Orleans' role in the slave trade, the day to day life of enslaved kids and the limited ways some enslaved people were able to become free. New Orleans' history is complex. The Creole Kids Tour does not shy away from that yet presents it in a kid friendly way that challenges kids to think critically about the past and today.

This unforgettable tour takes social studies to the streets and allows kids to capitalize on their natural curiosity, bountiful energy, and wonderful silliness. While it is a walking tour for kids, the history is for everyone. Adults will enjoy learning about French Quarter history – and you are more than welcome to engage in any and every aspect of the tour!