Guided Tours of the Lighthouse Museum

** new - please call us before arriving!  504-282-2134 **

Come experience how the history of a light, a lake and a coast has blended together. Visit Louisiana's only working lighthouse containing a museum that is open to the public.

The New Canal Lighthouse Museum is located at 8001 Lakeshore Dr., in New Orleans, LA.

Click here for a map to the New Canal Lighthouse Museum!

The museum is located on the first floor of the rebuilt lighthouse raised up 19 feet above the level of Lake Pontchartrain. This protects the building against storm surges from the lake that may come with hurricanes and tropical storms. The museum can be accessed by two sets of stairs or by an elevator "lift" to accommodate those with special needs. The balcony allows the visitor to get a panoramic view of the New Orleans south shore lakefront.

Inside, the museum consists of three display areas, one depicting the history of the light and the region, one presenting PC's SAVE OUR LAKE successful campaign, and one presenting the challenges addressed with PC's SAVE OUR COAST campaign. The lighthouse tour is led by trained docents who take visitors through the halls to tell how the history story turned into an environmental one, and how everyone can help sustain our region.

The second floor of the lighthouse contains office space and houses PC's education, outreach and development departments. The cupola of the lighthouse is not open to the public but the light within it is maintained and shines nightly.

The New Canal Lighthouse provides more than just a museum offering tours. It has an inviting gift shop, offers educational programs, hosts events and offers a facility to rent. It also has a fountain plaza, breezeway, promenade and outdoor deck. Future plans include a dock that still needs to be funded.

The third and well known historic New Canal Lighthouse built in 1890 at West End on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans was severely damaged in 2005 by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In 2006, Pontchartrain Conservancy signed a lease with the U.S. Coast Guard allowing PC to restore the property. The beacon was re-lit in September 2012 as a private aid to navigation for mariners. With the help of generous donors and fundraising events, PC completed the reconstruction of the lighthouse and opened to the public in April 2013.

The New Canal Lighthouse Museum and Education Center:

• Educates locals and visitors about the water quality and habitats of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin
• Educates locals and visitors about PC's Multiple Lines of Defense Strategy to address critical coastal issues
• Educates locals and visitors about the history of the lighthouse and lifesaving station
• Functions as an active aid to navigation by nightly lighting the lighthouse beacon

Tour the museum - Plan an event - Schedule a PC educational presentation.

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday
Open to the general public. Docent-led tours available 10:00am - 4:00 pm
Group tours by appointment. Call 504-282-2134.

Individuals - Group Tours - Motorcoaches
Handicap accessible
Purchase tickets in the Gift Shop

Admission Fee:
$7.50 Adults
$5.50 Seniors, Students & Military
$3.00 Children Age 6-12 (Children under 6 years old are free.)

Group Tours:
Group rates are available. $5.00/person for groups of 10 or more. For museum group tours by appointment, please email kate@scienceforourcoast.org or call (504) 282-2134.

PC's Education Staff offer group presentations and lighthouse tours by appointment. Please call the Education Department at 504-836-2238 or email education@scienceforourcoast.org to schedule a presentation or group activity at this historic site.

Gray Line Tours also offers a tour Monday - Saturday that includes a guided tour of the New Canal Lighthouse. Contact Gray Line Tours at (504) 569-1401 or (800) 233-2628

Directions (8001 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, LA):
Directions: From I-10, take the West End Blvd exit. Follow West End, cross over the light at Robert E. Lee Blvd. and the lighthouse will be on your left. Park across the street. From I-610, exit Canal Blvd. (EXIT 1A), continue north to Lakeshore Dr., turn left for 1/3 mile. The lighthouse will be on the right at the curve. Park across the street.