JAMNOLA stands for Joy, Art and Music, New Orleans, and its founders built it as a room-by-room tour of the city’s culture made almost entirely by local hands.
Founder Jonny Liss opened the first version in August 2020 on Royal Street in the Bywater, putting roughly $750,000 of his own money into the build during the pandemic. It ran there for nearly five years. On April 7, 2025, it closed that location, and four days later it reopened at 940 Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, inside the old Binder Bakery building. The move put it on the city’s best-known music strip and within a ten-minute walk of the French Quarter.
More than 100 New Orleans artists and collaborators built the 29 exhibits inside, and around 85 percent of the materials come from repurposed and recycled sources. Each room takes on a different piece of local culture, from music and food to Carnival and neighborhood theatrics. Visitors pass a bust of bounce star Big Freedia wearing a floral headband, step into a crawfish boil where the crawfish do the cooking, and walk a path paved with recycled Mardi Gras beads. An absinthe garden, a golden feast room, and a peacock sculpture turn up along the way. A virtual costume closet lets visitors try on looks, and 3D glasses handed out at the start make some of the artwork jump off the walls.
The experience rewards curiosity as much as photos. QR codes throughout the rooms link to background on each exhibit and the artists who made them, so visitors can learn as much or as little as they want. Reviewers describe it as equal parts education and play, and families and groups of adults both show up in large numbers. The space is fully air-conditioned, wheelchair accessible, and open to strollers, which makes it a reliable choice on a hot afternoon or a rainy day.
The mission reaches past the building. JAMNOLA directs a share of its proceeds to local causes, including the Trombone Shorty Foundation, which supports young musicians, and it lists groups like PFLAG New Orleans among its community partners. It also hosts school field trips, private events, and occasional adults-only nights, including a Halloween party open to guests 21 and older.
Tickets require planning. Every visit runs on timed entry, so guests must book ahead and arrive on time for their slot. Adult tickets cost $36.99 before tax, children ages 3 to 12 pay $22.99, and kids 2 and under get in free. Full-time students, teachers, seniors, military members, first responders, and health care workers pay $31.99 with valid ID. Louisiana residents who show a state ID save about half on weekday visits. Tickets are non-refundable unless buyers add purchase protection, and any change or cancellation needs at least 24 hours of notice.
JAMNOLA opens Monday, Thursday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Hours can shift for weather, demand, or private events, so check the ticketing site before heading over.
