The Upper and Lower Pontalba buildings were designed and financed by the Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba. Her father, Don Andrés Almonester y Roxas, was a Spanish colonial landowner who helped finance The Cabildo, St. Louis Cathedral and The Presbytère.

The City of New Orleans took possession of the Upper Pontalba Building on February 8, 1930 through ordinance #11949, Commission Council Series. The building had been purchased in December 1920 by Alfred D. Danziger, Jules S. Dreyfous and William Runkel. The building was then sold to the Pontalba Building Museum Association for 200,000 in 1930. This Association then donated the building to the City of New Orleans.

On May 22, 1930, ordinance #12183, Commission Council Series, set up the Pontalba Building Culture Museum Commission of the City of New Orleans to manage the property. The commission was to be composed of between three and thirty-five “adult citizen taxpayers” and an executive secretary.

On March 31, 1931, the ordinance was amended (orinance #12963, Commission Council Series) to change the name of the commission to the Upper Pontalba Building Commission.

Currently the Upper Pontalba is managed by The Upper Pontalba Building Restoration Corporation, a “Public Benefit Corporation of the City of New Orleans” incorporated pursuant to Louisiana law. The French Market Corporation manages, operates and staffs the Upper Pontalba Building Restoration Corporation. Operation of the Upper Pontalba building is overseen by a seven-member Board. More information about the Upper Pontalba Building can be found at the Upper Pontalba website.

The Lower Pontalba building is owned by the state of Louisiana. A portion of the building has been turned into a museum, the 1850 House.