The 1811 Kid Ory Historic House is hosting tours about the 1811 Rebellion and Kid Ory on the hour. One of the oldest structures in St. John the Baptist parish, the 1811 Kid Ory Historic House figures in two noteworthy moments in American history: The 1811 rebellion of enslaved people and the dawn jazz.

The museum was once called the “Big House” for a succession of owners 1797-1922. In 1811 it was called the Andry plantation. By the time Kid was born in 1886, it had been dubbed the Woodland plantation. The house is not furnished as a residence.

The first blood of the rebellion was drawn in the house and future jazz bandleader, composer, trombonist, and recording artist Edward “Kid” Ory was born in the quarters there in 1886.

The rebellion was a desperate gamble for freedom which ended in a slaughter. Kid’s tale is one of an artist who helped define an emerging art form.

Both stories are explored in exhibits that include antique, home-made instruments, interpretive story panels, period maps, working antique phonographs, interactive displays of music and video, and Ory’s century-old trombone.

Within the tour, they have two dedicated galleries for art and photography exhibits. Next year they will open the Kid Ory Creole Jazz Archive, the largest holding of Kid Ory material in the world. Items include music and writing in the hand of Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton, original sheet music from 1920s recording sessions, personal letters, business records, and photographs.

In their shop, they offer books on Kid Ory, jazz, New Orleans culture, the 1811 insurrection, and testimonies of the enslaved. They also sell Kid Ory music on vinyl, CD, and 78rpm. We have antique phonographs, custom made cigar book guitars, photographs, face masks, t-shirts, and more.

For more information on the 1811 Kid Ory Historic House, or to purchase tickets, click here.