Today the brick building houses the history department, honors program, TIDES program, Capital Projects, as well as the Africana department.
Built in 1894 by Harrod and Andry architects to house the chemistry department, it was enlarged in 1979 by Diboll and Kessels architects to include classroom space and additional offices.
Originally built to house the Physics program, Hebert Hall is the only building on campus facing magnetic north. Tulane physicist and astronomer Brown Ayres (1856-1919) placed the building facing forth south for both natural lighting and use of magnetic instruments. By avoiding the use of iron in construction, experiments using electricity worked better. The building was later renamed in 1979 for the late congressman Hebert, whose office is recreated inside.