LOUISIANA: THE PELICAN STATE
BY CLAY
LARROY
Do
you feel like it is time for a short vacation? Once you decide to travel, how good you plan the trip
will help you feel comfortable and be comfortable at your destination. Not only
will you feel less anxiety before the trip, but you can rest assured that once
you arrive where you're going you will have a good understanding of what's
going on there. When you need to plan a vacation contact me!
NEW ORLEANS, “THE
BIG EASY”
New
Orleans History
New Orleans was founded in
1718, at the swampy foot of France's huge Louisiana territory, and named after
the Duc d'Orléans. Despite hurricanes, mosquitoes, disease and floods, settlers
came and the city prospered, mainly thanks to its position at the mouth of the
Mississippi River. In 1762, the territory was secretly ceded to Spain.
Drawn by rich plantations
and a thriving port, the Americans came seeking their fortunes. During the 19th
century, New Orleans boomed with cotton and sugar trade, and by 1860 it was the
wealthiest city in the country.
The region's fortunes were
to be dealt a fierce blow after the Civil War (1861-65) as the area's
slave-based, agricultural economy declined.
Regeneration was not far
away, though, and the 1890s saw the introduction of an advanced public
transport system. The city was seen as having a progressive, liberal society
with a relatively well-educated black population.
The turn of the century
also saw the glory days of Storyville, the semi-legal red light district that
ushered in New Orleans' reputation as an entertainment hub. Its legacy is still
evident in the glitter and neon of Bourbon Street, where strip clubs have
replaced brothels but the air of decadence still hangs heavy.
The various nationalities
that once occupied the city never really left, and even in the early 20th
century, the population still had a sizeable proportion of Francophones. By the
1920s, Storyville had been shut down, and vigorous efforts were made
architecturally and socially to modernize the city.
Despite hurricane season
having periodic effects on the city, with floods in 1927 and 1947, the
metropolitan sprawl still grew nonetheless and the population continued to
expand.
Present-day New Orleans
has unarguably been shaped by the effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The
levee system failed, and it became one of the largest disasters in American
history. A huge chunk of the populace was displaced, and even some years later,
the city is still under populated.
However, tourism has once
again reached pre-Katrina levels, and new businesses and attractions appear
every year as the city enjoys a period of development and innovation.
Did you know?
- After ceding New Orleans to Spain, the city belonged to the French for just 20 days in 1803 before they sold it to the US as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
- Built in 1955, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge is the world's longest bridge over a body of water.
- When Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne founded New Orleans in 1718, he chose the spot as he thought it would be safe from hurricanes and tidal surges.
- After ceding New Orleans to Spain, the city belonged to the French for just 20 days in 1803 before they sold it to the US as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
- Built in 1955, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge is the world's longest bridge over a body of water.
- When Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne founded New Orleans in 1718, he chose the spot as he thought it would be safe from hurricanes and tidal surges.
City
Attractions in New Orleans
1850 House
Set in one of the Pontalba
Buildings (the twin rows of mid-19th-century brick townhouses lining opposite
sides of Jackson Square), the 1850 House has been restored to depict a typical
New Orleans residence of that era. It comprises a central court and rooms on
three stories, which are filled with authentic period furnishings. Of
particular note are the decorative cast-iron railings, which superseded the
traditional hand-worked wrought iron of the French Quarter. Look for the
letters A and P in the design - the initials of Madame Micaela Almonester de
Pontalba, the wealthy heiress who erected the Pontalba Buildings and made other
improvements around Jackson Square.
Opening Times
Tues-Sun 0900-1700.
Telephone (504) 568 6968.
Website http://lsm.crt.state.la.us
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
The country's largest
collection of jellyfish and sharks as well as seahorses, penguins, otters and a
multitude of other sea creatures inhabit this watery world. Each of its four
major exhibit areas (the Amazon Rainforest, the Mississippi River, the Gulf
Coast and the Caribbean Reef) feature animals and fish native to that
particular area. Many exhibits allow visitors to interact with creatures such
as nurse sharks and turtles or to watch penguins feeding and learn more about
underwater denizens. The facility borders Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the
Mississippi, so it is a fine place for a stroll.
Opening Times
Tues-Sun 1000-1700.
Audubon Park and Zoo
Covering 160 hectares (400
acres), Audubon Park is one of the largest city parks in the country and is
named after the painter and ornithologist John James Audubon. The highlight of
the park is the Audubon Zoo, which has sections devoted to the Louisiana Swamp.
A cruise boat run by New Orleans Steamboat Company (tel: (504) 569 1401;www.steamboatnatchez.com)
leaves Audubon Landing for an 11km (7-mile) river ride to the French Quarter.
See also the Audubon Insectarium at 423 Canal Street. Combination tickets for
insectarium, zoo and aquarium are available.
Opening Times
Tues-Fri 1000-1600, Sat-Sun 1000-1700.
Telephone (50(504) 581 4629 or 1 800 774 7394.
Website http://www.auduboninstitute.org
Telephone (50(504) 581 4629 or 1 800 774 7394.
Website http://www.auduboninstitute.org
Cabildo
Built between 1795 and
1799, this handsome building takes its name from the Spanish council, or cabildo, which met
here in colonial times. It is a fine example of the Spanish colonial style and
its wrought-iron balcony railing is arguably the most outstanding work from
that period in the city. In 1803, in a room called the Sala Capitular on the
second floor, France signed the Louisiana Purchase, which ceded a huge
territory west of the Mississippi, including New Orleans, to the United States.
Today, the Cabildo houses a museum of Louisiana history. Among the exhibits are
the colony's founding stone and Napoleon Bonaparte's death mask.
Opening Times
Tues-Sun 0900-1630.
Telephone (504) 568 6968 or 1 800 568 6968.
Website http://lsm.crt.state.la.us
City Park
Though the second largest park in the US sustained some
hurricane damage, it is still an emerald refuge. Donated to the city in 1850 by
John McDonough, this former sugar plantation has been a favourite destination
for folks who enjoy jogging, fishing or just like to wander among giant oak
trees and duck-filled ponds. The park is also home to the New Orleans Museum of
Art, New Orleans Botanical Garden, a mini-train, Storyland (a children's park
with fairytale characters), tennis courts and a golf course.
Admission Fees
No
Telephone (504) 482 4888.
Website http://www.neworleanscitypark.com
French Quarter
Also
known as the Vieux Carré (Old Square), the French Quarter covers a grid of 98
square blocks. Dating from 1718, it is one of the oldest districts in the
country, with superb 18th- and 19th-century architecture. The handsome
buildings erected after this time, with their arches, fanlights and filigreed
wrought-iron balconies, are actually Spanish in character. The focal point of
the French Quarter is Jackson Square, arguably the loveliest square in the USA.
It is dissected by Bourbon Street, the neon-tinged tourist hub lined with
daiquiri bars and strip joints.
Garden District
Stretching from St Charles Avenue to Magazine Street and between
Louisiana and Jackson Avenues, the Garden District is an elegant National
Historic District of pre-war homes. Originally a separate city called
Lafayette, which was annexed by New Orleans in 1852, the Garden District was
first laid out in the 1820s and was settled by wealthy American businessmen.
The handsome Greek revival mansions are still private residences and are not
open to the public. But a daytime stroll through this district of leafy streets
and impressive architecture is very rewarding. One of the grandest homes is the
Robinson House, 1415 Third Street, which resembles an Italian villa and was
possibly the first house in the city to have indoor plumbing. Author Anne
Rice's home, Rosegate, is at the corner of First Street and Chestnut Street. In
the center of the Garden District is the Lafayette Cemetery with its ornate
vaults and tombs, which featured in the film Interview with the Vampire (1994). It is best visited as part of
a group on a walking tour; you can also enjoy wonderful views of the district
from the streetcars running the length of St Charles Avenue.
Hermann-Grima House
Built in 1831, for Samuel
Hermann, a wealthy merchant, and later sold to attorney Felix Grima, this
Federal-style house is among the best examples of American architecture in the
Vieux Carré. The highlight is the Creole kitchen, where cooking demonstrations
take place over the open hearth, all day on Thursdays from October to May.
There are also period rooms and a restored stable.
Opening Times
Tours daily at 1000, 1100,
1200, 1400 and 1500.
Telephone (504) 525 5661.
Website http://www.hgghh.org
National World War II Museum
Celebrating the
accomplishments of the 1 million Americans who participated, the museum gives a
fascinating political and economic overview of the build-up and mobilization of
the Allied Forces' 17 different amphibious invasions during WWII's D-Days.
Crammed with maps, filmed narrations, artefacts and photographs, it puts a face
on the war. Exhibits include the Home Front, Planning for D-Day, the D-Day
Beaches and D-Day invasions of the Pacific. Guides who speak French, Spanish
and German are available. Note that the museum has scheduled a US$300 million
expansion to quadruple its size by the end of 2009, but will remain open during
this time. New features will include extra exhibits and a national center for
research on the war.
Opening Times
Daily 0900-1700.
Admission Fees
Yes
Telephone (504) 527 6012.
Website http://www.ddaymuseum.org
New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)
This excellent museum is
situated near the lake off Esplanade Avenue in City Park. Major travelling
exhibitions and rotating exhibits from the museum's large art collection are
displayed on the ground floor. Highlights of the permanent exhibits on the upper
two floors include the pre-Columbian collection, Native American art, the Asian
wing, American and European paintings, and one of the largest glass collections
in the country. There is also an attractive sculpture garden.
Opening Times
Tues-Sun 1000-1700 (Fri
until 2100).
Admission Fees
Yes
Telephone (504) 658 4100.
Website http://www.noma.org
Old US Mint
Completed in 1835, the Old
US Mint manufactured Confederate money during the Civil War and continued to
mint US coins until 1909. Its thick walls also served as a prison when Union
troops captured the city. Today, as part of the Louisiana State Museum, it
houses the excellent New Orleans Jazz Collection, which features music,
artefacts and instruments, such as Louis Armstrong's first trumpet. Also here
are the archives of the Louisiana Historical Center.
Opening Times
Tues-Sun 1000-1630.
Admission Fees
Yes
Telephone (504) 568 6993 or 1 800 568 6968.
Website http://lsm.crt.state.la.us
Presbytère
Designed in 1791 as a
rectory for the priests of St Louis Cathedral, the Presbytère was finally
completed in 1813. By then, New Orleans had become part of the United States
and the church rented the building to the city for use as a courthouse; it was
then sold to the city in 1853. Today, the landmark property houses a dazzling
collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia, from masks and costumes to videos and
interactive displays about the history of the event. There are also exhibits of
local art and decorative arts.
Opening Times
Tues-Sun 0900-1700.
Admission Fees
Yes
Telephone (504) 568 6968.
Website http://lsm.crt.state.la.us
St Louis Cathedral
The simple yet elegant
facade of St Louis Cathedral is a focal point of Jackson Square. Named after
the former king of France, this is the oldest cathedral in the United States.
It is the third church built on this site; the first was destroyed by a hurricane
in 1722 and the second by a fire in 1788. The present building, dedicated as a
cathedral in 1794, was extensively remodeled in 1849-51 to the specifications
of architect, JNB de Pouilly. When Pope Paul VI visited in 1964, he designated
it a minor basilica.
Opening Times
Daily after 0730 mass
until 1600.
Admission Fees
No
Telephone (504) 525 9585.
Website http://stlouiscathedral.org
St Louis Cemetery No 1
New Orleans is famous for
its above-ground cemeteries or 'Cities of the Dead'. Because the high water
table made underground burial difficult, people built ornate marble tombs and
vaults, decorated with statuary, mosaics, wrought-iron and other ornamentation,
above ground. St Louis Cemetery No 1, just above the French Quarter, dates back
to 1789 and is the oldest of the cities many such burial grounds. It is also
one of the most atmospheric, with crumbling tombs and the graves of some of the
city's historic personages, including the voodoo queen Marie Laveau. The
cemeteries are vast, unpatrolled and can attract crime, so tourists should
visit them as part of a guided tour.
Opening Times
Daily 0900-1500.
Admission Fees
No
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