Backstreet Cultural Museum
Encyclopedia
The Backstreet Cultural Museum is a museum in New Orleans
, Louisiana's
Tremé
neighborhood.
The museum's collections include objects relating to the African American culture of New Orleans with a special emphasis on jazz funeral
s, Mardi Gras Indians
, and second lines parades sponsored by Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs. The museum contains many priceless artifacts of African-American culture in New Orleans, including elaborate, brightly-colored suits worn by Mardi Gras Indians in previous years, and rare photos of Mardi Gras Indian "gangs" from the 1940s. The museum is also a clearing house for information about Mardi Gras Indian and second-line events, and serves as the location for some events, including the annual White Buffalo Day ceremony and procession that goes to Congo Square. Admission to the museum is by a donation of $8, although hours are said to be somewhat sporadic. As in many other museums, photographs inside are prohibited.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana's
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Tremé
Treme
Tremé is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are Esplanade Avenue to the north, North Rampart Street to the east, St. Louis Street to the south and North Broad Street to the west...
neighborhood.
The museum's collections include objects relating to the African American culture of New Orleans with a special emphasis on jazz funeral
Jazz funeral
Jazz funeral is a common name for a funeral tradition with music which developed in New Orleans, Louisiana.The term "jazz funeral" was long in use by observers from elsewhere, but was generally disdained as inappropriate by most New Orleans musicians and practitioners of the tradition...
s, Mardi Gras Indians
Mardi Gras Indians
Mardi Gras Indians are African-American Carnival revelers in New Orleans, Louisiana, who dress up for Mardi Gras in suits influenced by Native American ceremonial apparel.Collectively, their organizations are called "tribes"...
, and second lines parades sponsored by Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs. The museum contains many priceless artifacts of African-American culture in New Orleans, including elaborate, brightly-colored suits worn by Mardi Gras Indians in previous years, and rare photos of Mardi Gras Indian "gangs" from the 1940s. The museum is also a clearing house for information about Mardi Gras Indian and second-line events, and serves as the location for some events, including the annual White Buffalo Day ceremony and procession that goes to Congo Square. Admission to the museum is by a donation of $8, although hours are said to be somewhat sporadic. As in many other museums, photographs inside are prohibited.