Chalmette Battlefield

The basics

Located within the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve, the Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery visitor center should be your first stop to learn about the site's history through films and exhibits. Admission is free, and audio tours are available. In the cemetery, you can find graves of local soldiers involved in wartime between the War of 1812 and the Vietnam War. Self-guided tours, a reconstructed 1830s house, and monuments line the park beyond the visitor center.

Things to know before you go

• Free Battle of New Orleans talks are offered by park rangers daily

• With limited sailings, the Creole Queen ship runs from the French Quarter to the battlefield

• This site is part of the NPS Junior Ranger program, where kids can earn badges for engaging in activities around the park

• Reenactments of the Battle of New Orleans are staged on the anniversary of the conflict

How to get there

Chalmette National Historical Park is located at 1 Battlefield Rd. in the Chalmette neighborhood, approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of Jackson Square. The #8 St. Claude-Arabi bus route will get you within walking distance of the battlefield. You can also arrange taxi or rideshare services. On-site parking is available, which is the most convenient way to access the park.

When to get there

Chalmette National Historical Park is open year-round, typically from the morning until the late afternoon for vehicles. Pedestrians can access the park at any time. Arrive at any time unless you’re interested in a live ranger talk, then plan the visit according to the day’s posted schedule. The park is closed on most major federal holidays and during Mardi Gras, so call ahead if visiting in late February or early March.

Explore more of New Orleans' wartime history

As a long-established city, New Orleans has a military history extending far beyond the War of 1812. After exploring the site of the Battle of New Orleans, visit the Confederate Memorial Hall Museum, where artifacts related to the Civil War are on display, then the National World War II Museum, which features an exhibit showcasing the New Orleans workforce that built boats used in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy.