Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a Jewish person living in the American South? Well, here at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, that’s exactly what you can discover! We’re right here in New Orleans, a city that has always been a crossroads of cultures. The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience is a unique place where you can explore the rich history of Jewish life across the thirteen Southern states. It was founded in 1986, housed at a summer camp for Jewish children in Utica, Mississippi. Its mission was to preserve Jewish culture in the South. When the camp closed in 2012, New Orleans was chosen as the perfect place to relocate the Museum, allowing it to reach a wider audience. In 2017, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience found a new home in the Arts District of New Orleans. It occupies a renovated 1916 building and features four galleries. You can take a journey through time, learning about the early Jewish immigrants, their struggles, and their triumphs. You’ll see artifacts like a Jewish soldier’s Civil War diary, steamship tickets, and a wedding dress. The Museum is not only about the past. It also explores how Jewish culture has evolved in the South, from the Civil Rights movement to the 21st century. And, if you’re looking for a more immersive experience, you might want to try out the interactive quilt-making feature, where you can create your own virtual quilt square, representing your own personal identity. You’ll be amazed by the incredible stories and artifacts housed in this incredible museum.