New Orleans holds a special place in American culture and history. Established in 1718 along a bend in the Mississippi River, New Orleans developed as a global port and crossroads of Indigenous, African, Caribbean and European influences. World Monuments Fund's (WMF) earliest engagement in the city dates to 1996, when it named Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 to the inaugural World Monuments Watch. After the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina, WMF partnered with local organizations to help rebuild historic neighborhoods. Our work continues today, with our Bridge to Crafts Careers program expanding to the historic Saint Louis Cemetery No. 2; most recently, WMF named the City of New Orleans one of ten Irreplaceable America sites.  

Highlights of this Escapade to New Orleans will include

- A walking tour of the French Quarter with acclaimed New Orleans historian Richard Campanella

- An exclusive tour of the Saint Louis Cathedral with an insider's look at the current restoration project

- The chance to observe WMF’s Bridge to Crafts Careers program at Saint Louis Cemetery No. 2 firsthand

- A cocktail reception at a private home in the French Quarter

- A special reception and private art collection viewings

- Guided tours of Whitney Plantation, the Historic New Orleans Collection, and Longue Vu Gardens

- Private dining experiences at landmark New Orleans restaurants

- Guided walking tours of the Garden District and Tremé neighborhood with experts from the Preservation Research Center

The cost of Escapades: New Orleans is $3,000 per person. 

Included in the cost:

- Transportation through the Escapade.

- All lunches; all dinners except one

- Experts and guides for walking tours and site visits

- Admission to historic sites and venues

Not included:

- Airfare to New Orleans

- Hotel accommodations

- One dinner

- Travel insurance

WMF has reserved a block of rooms at the Hotel Monteleone, and this location will serve as the meeting point throughout the Escapade. Upon registration, you will receive a list of recommended hotels.

To register, please contact Brian Keliher, Director of Donor Engagement and Travel at bkeliher@wmf.org or +1 332-347-7348. 

You can make an additional tax-deductible donation to support WMF’s work in New Orleans when you register. Your gift will go directly to provide training for students working in our Bridge to Crafts Career program at Saint Louis Cemetery No. 2 in New Orleans.

WMF is grateful to Donna Rosen, WMF Trustee, for her guidance and support in planning this Escapade, and we hope you will join us and discover why New Orleans is an extraordinarily magical place in the world. 

“One of Napoleon’s generals, Lallemaud, was said to have come here to check it out, looking for a place for his commander to seek refuge after Waterloo. He scouted around and left, said that here the devil is damned, just like everybody else, only worse. The devil comes here and sighs.” – Bob Dylan