Preservation Resource Center

Non-profit organization · Lower Garden District

Preservation Resource Center

Non-profit organization · Lower Garden District

923 Tchoupitoulas St #3819, New Orleans, LA 70130

Highlights

The PRC in New Orleans is your go-to hub for celebrating the city’s vibrant culture and architecture with engaging tours, classes, and expert insights.

923 Tchoupitoulas St #3819, New Orleans, LA 70130 Get directions

prcno.org

@afar

"The architecture of New Orleans attracts visitors who marvel at the pleasing cacophony of the local streetscape. The 18th- and 19th-century homes, storehouses, and shops—which, thankfully, still exist in considerable abundance—are as distinctive and homegrown as the city’s brass-band sound. The quirky appearance of the city's structures raises questions: Like, what’s with all the iron balconies? Why are the houses so narrow? Why do so many French Quarter homes have four front doors? The Preservation Resource Center is here to help sort these out. Founded in 1974, the center’s mission is to maintain and interpret the city’s buildings and neighborhoods. The group’s Warehouse District headquarters (located in an 1853 showroom for an iron foundry) provide a good first stop for anyone curious about New Orleans architecture and how it got that way."

The Best Things to Do in New Orleans

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@afar

The Perfect Day in New Orleans

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Reed Nolin

Google

Yearly Christmas tour of houses in the Garden District. New Orleans residents open their homes for the public to view. Different homes to tour, usually around the second week in December.

Stephen Medina

Google

Super Helpful with information about our beloved New Orleans: History, Architecture, Neighborhoods, Lectures, and super helpful friendly fun staff. The whole place from floor to ceiling is set up to help you learn. I'm going back....a lot :) & it's by a lot of fun places.

Adam Newman

Google

$45 to see what I and most will never have, damn. I’m interested to see the inside of the homes on the holiday tour, but where is this money going? That’s $90 for me and my partner to walk through these homes. $90? I initially thought, we’d both have a good time with this, but to spend this much to see the type of home we can only achieve through 300ish years of pulling up our bootstraps? No, no, no. I’ll keep the $90, and put that towards the next s&wb bill.

Marissa Schrader

Google

Perfect spot for learning about local history, including each neighborhood & all aspects of New Orleans culture. Nice selection of related books and reading/sitting area. Bright open space in a unique neo-Gothic building, and Avril at the front desk is super friendly and helpful!

Kevin Daste

Google

Great place to learn about the nuances of New Orleans neighborhoods, each neighborhood's historic buildings, and how you can get involved. They offer excellent renovation classes taught by local experts if you're thinking of buying an old home.

Refined Insanity

Google

These people just released an article saying that refinishing old wood windows can be better than replacement high efficiency windows. That is just a flat out lie. There is no way in the world to cost effectively convert an old window to one of high efficiency. The entire article was an opinion piece and a poor opinion at best.

Shelby McDuff

Google

We loved the wonderful exhibits of the different neighborhoods in NO and drove around looking at the architecture in these hidden gems. Great brochures if each area available.

Jerome Wilson (Romeo)

Google

Excellent information. Phenomenal curators!

Andi F.

Yelp

Amazing. I have been curious about the drive of the community for restoration, kind of knowing that this couldn't be the work of just a few individuals. Well, this organization has been a driving force behind the revival of homes, communities and neighborhoods for about 30 years or so. I have had them bookmarked to visit for about 6 months or so, and as they are only open during the week, I did not get a chance until today. I had seen another YELP-er check in here, then began to research what this Center was for, and decided I really needed to check it out. This is a worthy cause. I head over after the morning traffic has died down, get a paid spot on the street, very close to the building. There are a couple of steps to get in, and you push the door open. There was a very friendly lady at the reception desk when I came in today. The first floor had large placards detailing each of the neighborhoods making up New Orleans and the history, and what has made up the details of each neighborhood. It is free to come in and look around. For $45 annually, you can become a member and become involved with them, to include 9 magazines, one each month, with them taking a break for 3 months, twice in the summer, once in the winter. Come and check this place out. If you can't financially support them, see how you can help out.

Rachel A.

Yelp

If you have some time to kill before your reservation at Cochon, go across the street to the Preservation Resource Center. The PRC is a great space that highlights all the different neighborhoods of New Orleans, has little models on display of the different types of houses unique to NOLA, and provides tons of literature for taking about what to do in each neighborhood. It's like going to a tourist bureau but better. PRC is a nonprofit organization that is all about preserving NOLA. The timeline that spans across the wall explains in great detail the rise, fall, and rebuilding stages of NOLA through the years. You will see how Hurricane Katrina affected NOLA drastically. The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. We left with some great tips and a better understanding of the geography and what it is like to live in NOLA.

Jen L.

Yelp

Do you love old NOLA houses? Then PRC might be the non-profit to you. They sponsor tours and offer renovation workshops. And otherwise support neighborhood and historic preservation. I've enjoyed their stained glass window tours, their shotgun tours, but I haven't been on the fancy mansion one...imagine that. Yes, I think they can get a bit myopic but that comes with being passionate about historic architecture.

Fanny K.

Yelp

The PRC purchased a storm-damaged home after Katrina, rebuilt it (with a sub-contractor) and then sold it with their blessing. Our trust in the reputation of this organization helped close the deal for us when we recently bought the house. Sadly, we have discovered that whoever they hired to rehab the house scammed them, and as a result, us too. We have just discovered significant movement in one of the long walls. When we opened it up, it was clear that all of the original termite-damaged studs were retained during the rehab. It was held together by spray foam insulation and enough good luck to pass inspection. All of the studs in this wall are completely rotten and crumbling from ancient termite infestation. (There have been no active termite infestations for many years in this house as evidenced by the condition of the subfloor beams. As further proof that they knew what they were doing, they had sistered one (and only one?!) of the worst termite-damaged studs with a pine stud which did not get infested, proving that the termite damage to the studs predated the rehab.) This was willful, opportunistic malfeasance committed after a time of crisis, for profit. It could have had deadly and not just costly consequences - this wall supports half of the roof! It is a terrible legacy for the PRC, who should certainly have inspected the work they contracted out. Great ideas are one thing, but follow through on meeting basic building standards is equally important, if not more so. The one upside is that it makes me feel closer to my neighbors, many of whom were also scammed post-Katrina. I just didn't expect this from a PRC property.

Shannon S.

Yelp

The PRC does a lot of great preservation work along with being a great resource for all things related to New Orleans historic architecture. You can learn the difference between a Creole cottage, double gallery and shotgun house. They also offer educational programs, home tours, and other events. There are both permanent and rotating exhibits on New Orleans architecture and historic neighborhoods along with a gift shop.

Briana J.

Yelp

The PRC is awesome!! My nonprofit organization frequently uses the PRC conference room, so I've gotten plenty of opportunities to walk around and check out the place. The building itself is located on Tchoupitoulas St, right next to Ugly Dog Saloon. Inside, there is a bunch of cool historic New Orleans information to be found. They have different sections with information on the historic districts and even have free maps and brochures about all our beloved neighborhoods. In the lobby, they sell a range of New Orleans preservation related books and gifts, including a rad "History You Can Live In" shotgun T-Shirt. They also sell photography from local artists. I highly recommend visiting the PRC. Much of the work they do is all about education and outreach, so they frequently host interesting workshops and lectures, all listed on their events calendar on their website. They really do make you appreciate the city and it's rich historic architecture even more.

Amelia R.

Yelp

The staff here are wonderful. I've always found the to be helpful and informative. Their Preservation in Print periodical is a great resource and a delightful read.

Jean-Paul V.

Yelp

Among the varied "go tos" in New Orleans with the regard to neighborhood histories, definitions, and home tours the Preservation Resource Center (more commonly known as the PRC) provides a knowledgable staff, annual events, and converted open warehouse space in the heart of the Warehouse District.

@afar

The Best Things to Do in New Orleans

View Postcard for Preservation Resource Center

@afar

The Perfect Day in New Orleans

View Postcard for Preservation Resource Center

Reed Nolin

Google

Yearly Christmas tour of houses in the Garden District. New Orleans residents open their homes for the public to view. Different homes to tour, usually around the second week in December.

Stephen Medina

Google

Adam Newman

Google

Marissa Schrader

Google

Kevin Daste

Google

Refined Insanity

Google

Shelby McDuff

Google

We loved the wonderful exhibits of the different neighborhoods in NO and drove around looking at the architecture in these hidden gems. Great brochures if each area available.

Jerome Wilson (Romeo)

Google

Excellent information. Phenomenal curators!

Andi F.

Yelp

Rachel A.

Yelp

Jen L.

Yelp

Fanny K.

Yelp

Shannon S.

Yelp

Briana J.

Yelp

Amelia R.

Yelp

The staff here are wonderful. I've always found the to be helpful and informative. Their Preservation in Print periodical is a great resource and a delightful read.

Jean-Paul V.

Yelp