Tours, Museums, Attractions Post Katrina Update

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	From top to bottom: Jackson Square is green and serene; Sentinels flank the entrance to the Historic New Orleans Collection; A carriage tour makes its way down Bourbon Street.

October 12, 2005 - Gray Line Tours is reopening three tours on weekends only beginning Friday October 14. The Gray Line Plantation Tour will feature a motor coach ride up the River Road to Oak Alley. The famous plantation house with its breathtaking entry vista of Live Oaks came through Hurricane Katrina with minor damage. It's a beautiful as ever. The Swamp and Bayou Tour takes off by motor coach for the west bank of the Mississippi where patrons transfer to an all-weather tour boat to cruise through Cajun gator country. In the Vieux Carre the French Quarter Walking Tour guide takes you on a two and a half hour tour of all the historic points of interest in the Quarter.

At the Historic New Orleans Collection on Royal Street the galleries are open and a special free exhibition called the Terrible and the Brave: The Battles for New Orleans 1814-1815 is open Tuesdays through Saturdays.

The historic Hermann Grima House on St. Louis St. and the Gallier House on Royal suffered minor damage and will soon reopen to the touring public. Collections, furnishings and patios are intact.

Ursulines Convent the oldest structure in the Mississippi Valley is temporarily closed for clean up and repair.

St. Louis Cathedral is open for special services and suffered minor damages only.

Jackson Square is neat and green and eerily serene. The Pontalbas flanking the Square have some minor roof damage but residents are back. The shops along the square are slowly coming back.

The Louisiana State Museum properties - The Presbytere, Cabildo, 1850 House, Madame John's Legacy, and the Old U.S. Mint - are still closed for clean up and repair but will open soon.

The French Market area and buildings along Decatur Street had some significant roof damage and are under repair. Some individual shop and restaurant tenants have reopened. The famous Cafe du Monde coffee house is steam cleaning and readying the premise for a grand re-opening Wednedsay October 19, 2005. Beignets will be back soon!

If you're dining or shopping in the French Quarter, check out all of your options - here's the list of open restaurants, hotels and shops plus their Katrina hours of operation.