Spanish New Orleans and the Caribbean

The late 1700s in New Orleans was a period rife with natural disasters, diplomatic tensions, and demographic transformation. This was the age of Spanish rule, during which the city evolved from a poorly managed outpost on the edge of an empire, to a highly urbanized colonial capital, enriched by the racial and cultural diversity for which it continues to be celebrated today. The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) sheds light on this elusive and too-often-overlooked period of New Orleans history through its ongoing exhibition Spanish New Orleans and the Caribbean / La Nueva Orleans y el Caribe españoles.

Through 125 rarely seen original documents, maps and plans, furniture, paintings, articles of clothing, books, and religious objects with accompanying descriptive text in both English and Spanish, the exhibition chronicles the complex history of this era. Artifacts on display range from exquisite watercolor plans depicting the Spanish crown’s buildings in “Nueva Orleans,” to church records chronicling marriages between Black and Native American enslaved individuals, to vibrantly preserved artwork representing the royal families of France and Spain of the 1760s. Many of the unique historic items featured in the exhibition are on loan to THNOC from museums and cultural institutions across the globe, including from the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, Spain, and the Ministry of Culture in Mexico. 

Free Concerts & Special Holiday Programming

As a special accompaniment to the Spanish New Orleans & the Caribbean exhibition, THNOC has an exciting lineup of free concerts and activities coming up:

• November 9, 2022 (6:30 pm–8 pm) – Harpsichord Recital with John Walthausen. Internationally-acclaimed organ and harpsichord soloist John Walthausen will perform period music from the same time period as Louisiana’s Spanish-colonial era. THNOC’s Williams Research Center at 410 Chartres St. 

• November 12, 2022 (10 am–2 pm) – Spanish New Orleans Community Day. A community engagement event inspired by the exhibition featuring live performances from OperaCréole, historic demonstrations, and hands-on activities. THNOC’s Tricentennial Wing at 520 Royal Street.

• November 19, 2022 (11 am) – “Spanish Legacies of Louisiana Furniture” with Wayne Stromeyer. A special benefit for THNOC members, this in-person presentation will cover recent findings expressive of Spanish influence in Louisiana beds and chairs, and will feature several examples from Stromeyer’s own extensive furniture collection. THNOC’s Williams Research Center at 410 Chartres Street.

• December 15, 2022 (6 pm–7 pm) – “La Noche Buena: Spanish Christmas Music of the New World.” This enchanting holiday concert will feature a selection of period Spanish Christmas music, performed by guitarist, oud virtuoso, and composer Mahmoud Chouki, organist; and conductor Paul Weber, with the Krewe de Voix Chamber Choir. St Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. 

Spanish New Orleans and the Caribbean / La Nueva Orleans y el Caribe españoles is on display through January 22, 2023, in the Tricentennial Wing of THNOC’s 520 Royal Street building. Gallery text as well as the exhibition catalog will be presented bilingually in both English and Spanish. Admission to the exhibit and all programming is free. For more information, visit www.hnoc.org.