Entry No. 15 — the New Orleans file — filed under: haunted
Museum of Death
The New Orleans branch of the cult Los Angeles original packs an unflinching collection into a handful of rooms: serial-killer artwork and correspondence, shrunken heads, mortician equipment, coffins, and the Jack Kevorkian suicide machine. A back room screens real autopsy and death footage in its 'Theater of Death.' Photography is banned and most visitors get through it in about 45 minutes, often faster than they expected.
The story
You step off Dauphine Street into the New Orleans outpost of the cult Los Angeles original, and instantly realize this isn't a cheesy haunted house or a sanitized true-crime gift shop. It is a crammed, relentless repository for the things society buries underground: genuine serial killer correspondence and artwork, antique mortician equipment, shrunken heads, body bags, and old coffins. There are no jump scares here, just display cases packed edge-to-edge with unflinching evidence of human mortality.
The collection doesn't soften its edges. You stand feet away from Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s actual Thanatron suicide machine alongside raw crime scene ephemera and historical post-mortem artifacts. Deep in the back sits the 'Theater of Death,' a small screening space playing unedited video footage of real autopsies and actual deaths on a loop. It’s a clinical, quiet confrontation with the end of life that leaves very little to the imagination.
What it's like
Expect a compact, self-guided layout spread across a handful of heavily filled rooms. Cameras and phone photography are strictly banned—put them away before you walk in. The museum operates as a strictly cashless business, so bring a card. Most people move through the whole thing in under 45 minutes, often pacing faster than they intended as the weight of the exhibits sets in. If you are prone to fainting or lightheadedness, pay attention to your stomach before stepping into the back theater.
The move: Brave the whole collection together and see who taps out first, then decompress over a stiff drink to confirm you're both glad to be alive.
- 📍 French Quarter
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 227 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Hours: Added 2026-06-22 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Jewel of the South — Walk two blocks down to settle your nerves in a quiet Creole cottage garden with a very stiff cocktail.
- New Orleans Pharmacy Museum — Trade modern mortuary artifacts for 19th-century medical horrors, trepanning gear, and early apothecary jars three blocks away.
- The Shop: Oddities at Unique NOLA — Keep the strange afternoon going just down the street among wet specimens, taxidermy, and hoodoo supplies.
- Hotel Monteleone — Decompress from the autopsy footage over a slow drink at the historic hotel's revolving Carousel Bar.
Good to know
How long does a visit usually take?
Most visitors walk through the collection in about 45 minutes, though you can move at your own pace depending on how long you read the letters and display labels.
Can I take photos inside?
No. Photography and video recording of any kind are strictly prohibited throughout the museum.
Can I pay with cash?
No, the Museum of Death is a cashless business, so you will need a credit or debit card.
What are the operating hours?
The museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, though you should confirm current hours before heading over.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · Wikipedia · Yelp · neworleans.com
last checked: 2026-06-22