I enjoyed every minute in New Orleans, despite having to hobble from one destination to another since I had overworked my muscles to a point that I barely could walk. I plan on revisiting someday because of that reason since I felt like I could have done a lot more. Another reason is that four days simply isn’t enough to explore the city and outside of it. Even though the French Quarter is iconic for its history and picturesque architecture, the tourist traps can be overwhelming as with any popular destination! That’s why the Garden District resonated with me the most, as it is low-key, yet just as charming as the French Quarter, with stately historic homes, rich history, and astounding beauty.
One of my favorite attractions is the House of Broel’s Victorian Mansion and Wedding Chapel, also known as the House of Broel’s Victorian Mansion and Dollhouse Museum, which is not just beautifully nestled in the Garden District, but is also located on the historic St. Charles Avenue Streetcar line. The architectural is the most notable feat of this marvelous home! It was originally a two story home that was built in 1850 and was later elevated in 1884 by Wm. Renaud. The first floor is spacious enough for intimate weddings, parties, and receptions. The secret gardens and courtyard in the back makes the perfect backdrop for such!
My love for house museums developed several years ago when I visited some in Louisville, KY with my best friend several years ago. I’ve been to many house museums since then. Much as I love visiting them, the only downside is you’re unable to use photography at most of them. I believe many of them know that pictures will be shared online and they think this will hinder other people from visiting since they’ve already seen what the museum has to offer, or that the flash photography (I don’t use flash), the normal method for many museum-goers, will damage the antiques. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised that the owner, Bonnie Broel, said that photography was allowed. Believe me, I took countless pictures after that! She also didn’t mind if any of the antique furniture was touched, because she said the house was well lived in.
As a former doll collector, my favorite part of the house was the dollhouse museum upstairs. Some people find it to be creepy, considering there is dollhouse after dollhouse and doll after doll. I found most of them to beautiful, but there were some that seemed out of their element, such as one that depicted scenes from a movie that starred Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds – won’t mention the name! There were a few funny ones, as well, like the one featured below of the man reading the newspaper while doing his business. Also, there are a few frog collections, which basically consisted of anything that was frog-related. Our tour guide explained to us that Bonnie is a huge fan of frogs. The dollhouse museum is wonderfully cluttered, quirky, and a definite sight to see! 😀
Location
2220 Saint Charles Ave.
Price of Admission
$10
Phone
Looks so beautiful and meticulously kept. One of my relatives love the Victorian era of style!
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs recently posted..New See’s Candies Store Now Open in San Francisco, CA
That is definitley some place I would go see if I was down there. Wicked cool.
New Orleans is on my list of must see cities!! Beautiful!
Anne – Mommy Has to Work recently posted..PopCorn Balls
I’ve always wanted to visit New Orleans but hadn’t heard of this Mansion, what a unique and cool place!
I’ve never been to New Orleans before but would love to though! This would be a great place to stop while there! Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer @ Mom Spotted recently posted..Belli Anti Blemish Facial Wash – Pregnancy and Nursing Mom Safe {Review}
So much to see and do in New Orleans. I bet this is even more amazing in person.
Tiff @ Babes and Kids recently posted..Toys For All Ages From Hasbro
It truly is, because there is A LOT to see!
HilLesha recently posted..House of Broel’s Victorian Mansion and Dollhouse Museum in New Orleans, LA
How pretty! I love old houses – though I’ve never been to a house museum. Will have to check one out.
Bekah recently posted..#givethanksgiveback: leader sign-ups
Such beautiful photos. I love the Victorian era.
Jamie H recently posted..Mystery Birthday Party with Dramatic Fanatic
I’ve never been to a house museum, but this one certainly looks beautiful! I can see why it was a wedding house- many gorgeous backdrops for pictures.
Samantha Angell recently posted..Wednesday Wine 101: 9 Noble Red Grapes
FUN! What a neat girly day you had! I need that in my house of boys! I need to get out and do girly things!
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma) recently posted..Banana Coconut Muffins – #glutenfree
What a beautiful place it is. Very historic and classy!
LOL, I can’t believe they have a doll of a guy sitting on a toilet.
Jesica H recently posted..Best Rewards Program in Town!
I know. Totally random! ~lol~
HilLesha recently posted..House of Broel’s Victorian Mansion and Dollhouse Museum in New Orleans, LA
Allot of rich history in NO.. I would like to take a trip there at some point in time..
What a beautiful place! Don’t you wonder what it would be like to live in such a place? And to have those types of gardens? I’d have to have a full staff to keep it up, but I do love to visit and dream!
Wendy recently posted..Keep Moving Forward
What a beautiful location! I love that ‘doll’ sitting on the toilet! I am sure my husband would get a kick out of it.
Sara P. (@SensiblySara) recently posted..Back to School with Balance Bar #balanceisinthebag
Those pictures are absolutely amazing, they look so beautiful!
I have always wanted to visit New Orleans. Now I have two more places to see when I go. The pictures are amazing.
New Orleans has always been on my list of go-to places. I’d love to visit there someday. Your pictures are awesome- I hope to remember to visit those places if I ever make it there!
Taylor recently posted..Callibox Review
LOL at the doll on the toilet! I want him! I have never been to New Orleans, but would love to visit. This looks like a very nice museum!
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) recently posted..Back To School Dreyer’s Ice Cream Treat!
I love historical places like this. I have been wanting to visit New Orleans – this will go on our list!
Melissa recently posted..Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plan for Your Dog
What gorgeous photos! Looks like a great place to visit. Thanks for sharing about it.
This is actually a good venue to do wedding pictorials. I love how the house has vintage/ antique furniture. The little pieces look hard to clean and maintain though.
The Garden district looks like a great alternative to visit. I love beautiful historic homes. So sorry you had a rough visit with an injury. Hope you are feeling better.
Shell Feis recently posted..5 Tips {& 5 Must-Haves!} to Care for Baby’s Sensitive Skin
That place looks fabulous. I would enjoy going there too. I love going to home shows, and this looks like a perfect combination of that and history rolled into one. I didn’t even know these kinds of things existed.
Crystal Green recently posted..Marvel Family Entertainment on Netflix
I’ve never been to a house museum before. In fact, we actually live a block away from one of our first prime ministers! I guess I should go see it sometime!
FamiGami recently posted..Back to School with Office Depot Foundation
I’ve never been to anything like this before. It looks fantastic. I would love to visit.
Sarah Marturano recently posted..5 Minute Fall Kleenex Box + Savings At Sam’s!
I went to New Orleans as a teenager, when I was much too young to appreciate the true history of the city. I’d love to go back & explore.
Crystal recently posted..7 Reasons to Use the ZipList App
How fun to get a peek at the collection like that. I’m not sure what to think about the newspaper reading doll though, lol.
Liz Mays recently posted..How To Pack Like a Pro
Wow! The antique dolls are just amazing. I love the detail and inside that Victorian home….wow! I want to visit places like this one day!
Heather recently posted..Faucet Face Giveaway
I have never been to New Orleans but plan on it in the near future. This would definitely be a spot to visit.
Nicole recently posted..Studio Style NYC Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Products
That is a beautiful place! I love to go to house museums, too. It’s really fun to see how other people lived in earlier times. If I ever get to NOLA, I’ll have to visit this one.
Naomi recently posted..DIY Theme Park Map Coasters
Dolls freak me out! But these are beautiful.
Mellisa recently posted..Our Dolphin Encounter in the Bahamas at Blue Lagoon Island
I visited New Orleans as a young teen and have always wanted to go back as an adult. The dollhouse museum sounds really neat!
I would love to visit this, such a beautiful home. Love the detail on the dollhouse, wow. My favorite though would have to be the frog collection.
Elizabeth Ferree recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Toddlers Love the Boxes Best
I want to go to New Orleans so badly. My daughter would love to visit this place, she’s such a doll lover.
Chelle @ Oh Just Stop Already recently posted..Achieve Your Unique Style w/ Motions Products – #UrsulaForMotions
Oh wow, gorgeous! I LOVE historical places like this, such amazing stories and things to see.
Kimberly Grabinski recently posted..How to Survive Perimenopause with Silk
Looks like a really neat place to visit.
I would so love to visit the House of Broels Victorian Mansion and Doll House Museum. I love the old man on the toilet with the paper. Thanks for sharing.
I would love to visit. What a cool and very unique place to go see, I like it!
I would love to visit. What a cool and very unique place to go see, I like it!
I had no idea they had places like this. I definitely have to look into this. I love it. The one with the man sitting on the potty cracked me up! How very, very real. Fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing.
XmasDolly recently posted..Never Forget!
Looks like an amazing place to visit. I used to have great doll houses when I was a kid.
Vanessa: The Queen of Swag recently posted..We Got Milk For Back to School!
Your pictures are gorgeous! I will have to visit here when I go back to New Orleans.
Kat B. recently posted..Easy Peasy Pumpkin Pencil Craft
That looks like such a cool place to visit! I just love dollhouses. I’m secretly hoping that if I don’t have a girl I can convince my son to play with one 😉
Trish recently posted..How to stay motivated when you’re a work at home mom
What a beautiful museum. Looks like you had an amazing time even if you were sore from walking. Remember for next time to stretch after these long walks, it helps and you will feel so much better.
Digna D. recently posted..After I Do: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid Review #BookSparks #SRC2014
Whoa this is soooo amzing! I’d love to take my Daughter here!
New Orleans is on my bucket list of places to visit! Keeping this in mind for when I finally get to go!
Michelle recently posted..Isabelle Grace Jewelry
I just left New Orleans, must check this out.
Raijean recently posted..Elie Tahari for DesigNation Exclusively at Kohl’s
I’ve never heard of this place, but it looks very interesting. Some of those dolls are quite humorous too, like the guy on the commode!
Never knew there was such a place! A doll house museum sounds like a nice place to visit. I from the pictures I can tell there are hundreds of different dolls that I’ve never seen before!
Marielle Altenor recently posted..Abigail and the Jungle Adventure
That looks very interesting – and a little creepy. It might scare my kids, which may end up being funny.
LyndaS recently posted..Graham Crackers and Paleo Indulgences Book Review
I would love to visit New Orleans some day and see the architecture there. I love the Victorian Era homes!
Donna recently posted..It’s National Preparedness Month, Are You Prepared? #PoweringSafety
That looks like a stunningly gorgeous museum! I would love to spend an afternoon walking through looking at all the pretty things!
Kelsey Apley recently posted..Homemade Bread Rolls Using A KitchenAid Mixer
This would be interesting, dolls are so different today it would be fun to see the history.
Colleen recently posted..Learning the Alphabet with Tappy Alphabet App Review
I keep telling my husband I want to visit New Orleans
Anne – Mommy Has to Work recently posted..Rise of the Guardians and After Earth Blu-ray Movie Giveaways
I love visiting different museums. This is one for the bucket list.
Angela recently posted..Gummy Drop Match-3 Puzzle Game + iPad Mini Sweepstakes
Such a lovely place. I like house museums too.
Patranila recently posted..Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 ~ Review
Fun! I love the more off the touristy attractions. There’s always a hidden gem out there, and this looks like one of them.
Tammy recently posted..Pollo Tropical® Comes to Frisco, TX
What a gem! This definitely looks like a must see attraction in The Big Easy!
Marcie W. recently posted..Film’s Classic Song “Tomorrow” Reborn #AnnieMovie
We absolutely love this write up! Thank you for doing such a wonderful job on it. It was lovely having you here with us! If you have any questions please feel free to call us.
Thank you,
Rachel Welliver
House of Broel