By Victor Block

Quick quiz: Think jazz and blues played in clubs and by street musicians outside. Picture sidewalks crowded with people sipping beverages from plastic cups as they stroll along. If you guess that describes New Orleans, you're right - but there's more.

Much more.

Now see yourself visiting museums whose focus ranges from food and festivals to history and mystery. Where? New Orleans again.

Many visitors to the Big Easy are on a quest for fun and frivolity. For those seeking something more educational, there's also an intriguing history, rich cultural melange and attractions for people with a wide variety of interests. Anyone seeking to delve below the surface of the city's diverse appeals also has an inviting choice of interesting museums and intriguing collections that await exploration.

A good place to begin is the Historic New Orleans Collection. It occupies 10 historic buildings, and exhibits trace the history and culture of New Orleans, the state of Louisiana and the entire Gulf of Mexico region.

I found two collections, which will continue to the end of this year, especially appealing in very different ways. "Giants of Jazz" showcases larger-than-life portraits by famous 20th-century poster artists. Among legends depicted in colorful poses are Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles, along with information about their ties to New Orleans.

"Storyville: Madams and Music" relates another chapter in the story of music in the city's past. Created in 1897, the Storyville neighborhood operated as a city-sanctioned red-light district until 1917. Along with a number of other brothels, it attracted visitors with saloons, music and dance. Pioneering musicians who later went on to become famous played for tips at various venues.

The exhibit recalls that colorful time with photographs, oral histories and recordings. There's also a collection of pocket-sized directories known as "Blue Books" that listed and described the attractions and portrayed Storyville as a playground of lavish mansions, fine music and elegant women — a picture very different from the reality.

Of course New Orleans is synonymous with Mardi Gras, and two museums offer opportunities to experience the wonder of the festivities without the wildness. Mardi Gras World is where floats for parades in New Orleans and other locations have been made since 1947. Visitors may observe artisans as they go through the multiple steps required to construct the lavishly decorated floats.

I felt like a Lilliputian in a world of giants. I was dwarfed by huge likenesses of cartoon figures, movie personalities and fantasy creatures. Oversized animals and flowers the size of trees loom over the setting.

A different take on Mardi Gras is presented at the small but interesting Backstreet Cultural Museum. Don't let the nondescript exterior of the house that contains this collection put you off. The two rooms and hallways inside are jammed with memorabilia that brings to life New Orleans' African-American carnival traditions and celebrations.

Artifacts, photographs and films tell part of the story. Elaborate hand-sewn costumes line the walls. Some of them pay homage to Native Americans, who once provided assistance to slaves running away from their owners. There also are references to other aspects of African-American history and customs, including countries of Africa and voodoo.

Speaking of voodoo, there are plenty of opportunities in New Orleans to explore and experience that unique combination of religion and superstition. It was transported there by slaves from West Africa in the early 18th century. I got my voodoo fix at the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, a miniscule but mesmerizing collection which I found to be both educational and entertaining.

Visitors are overwhelmed by a jumble of paintings, sculptures, dolls, masks and other objects. The Gris-Gris room displays items that are used to invoke supernatural powers, which are more often employed to invoke positive goals such as fortune, luck and love than to conjure up evil.

Other museums also help to explain why New Orleans is such a popular magnet for tourism. The Old U.S. Mint was built in 1835 and during its decades of operation produced millions of gold and silver coins. Today it displays instruments that were played by notable musicians and other memorabilia that traces the history of jazz from its beginnings on the city's streets. Another feature is a series of free jazz concerts.

Only in New Orleans would there be a national park devoted to jazz — the Jazz National Historical Park. The visitors center is the place to start, and it's where jazz-related walking tours begin. The exhibits are not just about music but also cover local history, cultures, wildlife and food.

Not surprisingly, food has top billing at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum. There's a separate exhibit area for each Southern state and for chapters of the story of the various cultures that contributed to the region's culinary heritage. Demonstrations by chefs, lectures and tastings are among occasional programs open to the public.

The associated Museum of the American Cocktail depicts the history of mixology. Included is the role that the cocktail has played in American music, theater, art, film and even politics.

Whether enjoying local food, listening to world-class jazz or checking out any number of its attractions, New Orleans offers a surprisingly complete menu of choices. Its multiple museums only add to the options.

WHEN YOU GO

For more information, visit www.neworleans.com or call 800-476-1651.

Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.