French Quarter History
Creole Queen photo by Brian Norwood on Flickr A city that will be celebrating its tricentennial in 2018 will always have much to offer, and, like any multicultural place steeped in history and tradition, the French Quarter in particular has a non-wild side worth exploring. It may be tempting...
Read MoreStreetcars on Canal Street— Photo by Tom Bastin on Flickr At a grand 171 feet wide, traversed by streetcars, taxis, automobiles, cyclists and pedestrians, Canal Street is more than just a major downtown thoroughfare. Throughout its 210-year history, it also has served as an entertainment...
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By: Ian McNulty Visitors experience a city’s culture on the walls of museums and galleries, on the stages of theaters and musical halls and even on the plates of local restaurants. But in New Orleans, culture also comes bubbling up from the streets and one of the most unique local expressions of...
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Postcard showing view of Storyville courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection Many know Storyville as the red light district where prostitution and jazz music flourished in New Orleans from 1895 to 1917. A lineage of musical geniuses, including Jelly Roll Morton, Buddy Bolden and Pops...
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Photo courtesy of New Orleans Pharmacy Museum on Facebook New Orleans tends to be known more for her food, music and nightlife than her museums, but this city actually excels at visitor friendly educational institutions. Our museums tend to focus on local knowledge subjects that exist close to...
Read MorePhoto courtesy of Dirty Coast on Facebook New Orleans is often described as the most European city in the United States— or the northernmost Caribbean island. Settled by Native Americans, colonized by the Spanish, French and American governments, populated by Creoles, African slaves and...
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Even on the muggiest of Louisiana days, it's always Christmas inside Santa’s Quarters in the French Quarter. Those who have never ventured into the store can’t help but wonder, How do they stay in business year-round? What is it a front for? But Santa’s Quarters (1025 Dectatur St) owner...
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By: Katy Reckdahl Every year now, The Voodoo Experience, with its taglines “join the ritual,” and “worship the music,” pegs its calendar to Halloween. This has become a tradition in New Orleans, much like All Saints’ Day, when families head to the graveyards of the French Quarter and...
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By: Sally Reeves Detail, Ignace Broutin, Plan de la Nouvelle Orléans telle qu'elle estoit le premier janvier mil sept cent trente-deux. French Centre des archives d'outre-mer 04DFC 90A. Broutin's plan of the garden and the Capuchin complex in 1732. Several drainage features seem to be...
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By: Sally Reeves First-ever Natchez, built 1823. The 206-ton fledgling made history in 1825 transporting General Lafayette through the Mississippi Valley. The Natchez of racing fame, built 1869. A colosal gamble to preserve the steamboat freight buisiness, it was not the most elegant of...
Read MoreFrench Quarter History
French Quarter History consists of over 200 years of characters, chaos, and intrigue. From the Faubourg Marigny and Treme to the Mississippi River any history buff will be fulfulled here. Take a walking history tour or a Haunted New Orleans tour to find out much about the Historic French Quarter. Make sure to educate yourself on the Cabildo and the Spanish Quarter and of course, stop in St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square and see the original Louisiana Purchase. While you are here, take a moment to remember the devastation of Katrina. Take a Katrina Education Tour. And then round your trip out with some great jazz music and listen to the greats like Louis Armstrong or some of the new cats like The Marsalis family, Trombone Shorty and Kermit Ruffins to name a few.
