Old US Mint

From the street, the fenced-in building which is near the French Market, and from outside the market streetcar stop, it looks massive and a bit forbidding. But once inside, the terracotta red façade with ionic columns and portico is endearing, and has a rich history. Originally the location of Fort San Carlos, it was converted into the US Mint in mid 19th century. When in full operation, it is known to have produced nearly 500 million gold and silver coins of various denominations. It was decommissioned in the early 20th century, and has since functioned as the Louisiana State Museum for nearly four decades. It houses a beautiful collection of jazz instruments, as well as a Mardi Gras exhibition.