Historic BK House & Gardens

08/28/2026

We had a incredible turnout for the "Summertime in New Orleans" edition of the Quarter Kaleidoscope series, a neighborhood storytelling project produced in concert with VCPORA and French Quarter Journal, supported by The Jazz & Heritage Foundation. If you missed it, keep an eye on our programs page for upcoming events! https://www.bkhouse.org/programs/

In the meantime, you can access the entire series here: https://www.frenchquarterjournal.com/quarterkaleidoscope

08/27/2026

We had a special visitor to the parterre garden fountain today! ⛲ Frannie, our docent, managed to snap some pictures of what we believe is a black-crowned night heron.

Are there any amateur or professional ornithologists out there with any input on our guess? We'd love to hear about it!

08/20/2026

Join us August 26 at 6pm for another Quarter Kaleidoscope!

Presented by VCPORA, French Quarter Journal and BK House, this enchanted evening brings together residents, business owners and longtime community members to share the stories, characters, traditions and places that make the French Quarter home.

Speakers for this event's theme “Summertime in New Orleans,” include Nathaniel Adams, Gregory Eaglin "The Boudin Man," Olivia Lilley, Amelie Mason and R.J. Tsarov.

Come hear the Quarter’s stories, enjoy light refreshments and celebrate this one-of-a-kind community—not just as a destination, but as a place where people live, work and make memories.

Doors open at 6pm.
Tickets: $5 members | $10 non-members
🎫 https://www.bkhouse.org/programs/

Supported by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation – Louisiana Cultural Equity Arts & Creation.

*Photo courtesy of Ellis Anderson, read residents' stories here! https://www.frenchquarterjournal.com/quarterkaleidoscope

The Historic BK House & Gardens is a National Historic Landmark built in 1826. We are open for guided tours Monday - Saturday, from 10 AM - 3 PM.

08/19/2026

Just a few highlights from BK House’s Bicentennial Birthday Bash! Ellis Anderson’s gorgeous photos beautifully capture and commemorate this singular celebration.

See the full gallery at French Quarter Journal 👉https://www.frenchquarterjournal.com/archives/historic-bk-house-200-birthday-block-party

08/18/2026

Start your day with a little movement and mindfulness this Saturday, August 22 at BK House.

Join Rebecca Crenshaw from 9-10am for an all-levels yoga flow blending breath, mobility, and feel-good movement. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just beginning, this class will help you connect with your breath, loosen up, improve flexibility, and find your grounding—all in the beautiful ballroom of BK House.

Come stretch, breathe, move, and set the tone for a great day. Tickets are $15 👉 https://www.bkhouse.org/programs/

08/14/2026

200 years gracing the French Quarter: Happy Birthday, Historic BK House & Gardens

Here are a few photos from their Birthday Bash and Cake Picnic on Tuesday! You'll find our full photo gallery here: https://www.frenchquarterjournal.com/archives/historic-bk-house-200-birthday-block-party

08/13/2026

A lot can happen in 200 years! From collections and visitors to hurricanes and mayors, here’s a look at BK House by the numbers:

📸1,930 objects & 2,222 photos in our collection database
🙋11,000 annual visitors of all ages, joining us for tours, programs and special events
🏦49 New Orleans mayors and acting mayors
🌀35 hurricanes, named and unnamed storms weathered—including the Great Barbados Storm of 1831

Two centuries of history, and we’re still counting!

08/13/2026

Community members and loved ones are invited to the funeral visitation for Frank Perez on Saturday, August 15, from 10am to noon at Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home (The Schoen Chapel), 3827 Canal St, New Orleans.

Among many other things, Frank was founder of the LGBT+ Archives of Louisiana and a founding columnist at French Quarter Journal. It's difficult for us right now to envision a future without his advice and encouragement and friendship.

But he left us lots of words – beautiful ones – like this passage from his COVID diary that FQJ published in 2020:

"To be in the French Quarter is to step outside of time and enter a world of dreams and letters, a world perfumed by jasmine and oleander with the faintest hint of mud wafting in from the Mississippi, a world where people move slowly, with catlike grace and elegance.

Here, myth and reality meld to form a dreamy realm where imagination reigns supreme and care is wholly abandoned. The Quarter itself is a poem. The souls are old here and each has to story to sigh into any willing ear."

Our ears are willing, Frank, and we'll be listening for your voice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. A Celebration of Life in the French Quarter will be announced at a later date.

You can find more of Frank's words in FQJ's Archives: https://www.frenchquarterjournal.com/archives?author=62be1eb561e2c12ace6e2ee3

08/12/2026

All of us here at the BK House want to express our sincere gratitude to all of the wonderful people who made it to our Bicentennial Birthday Bash last night.

The evening was filled with music, dancing in the street and delicious, decadent cakes brought and shared by friends and neighbors. Here's to another 200 years! 🥳🥂🎂

Photo courtesy of Ellis Anderson French Quarter Journal

08/11/2026

Our last tour is at 11am today as we'll be preparing for our Bicentennial Bash tonight from 6-8pm. We can't wait to celebrate with you! 🎂🎉🎊🎈