| Vieux Carre Historic District | |
|---|---|
| (U.S. National Historic Landmark District) | |
 |
|
| Location: | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Built/Founded: | 1734 |
| Architect: | Multiple |
| Architectural style(s): | No Style Listed |
| Designated as NHL: | December 21, 1965[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966[2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000377 |
| Governing body: | Local |
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest and most famous neighborhood in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana When La Nouvelle Orléans ("New Orleans" in French) was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré ("Old Square" in French) as it was known then. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville ]]( February 23, 1680 &ndash March 7, 1767) was a colonizer born in Montreal, Quebec While the area is still referred to as the Vieux Carré by some, it is more commonly known as the French Quarter today, or simply "The Quarter. "[3] The district as a whole is a National Historic Landmark, and it contains numerous individual historic buildings. A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the It was relatively lightly affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States
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Boundaries
The most common definition of the French Quarter includes all the land stretching along the Mississippi River from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue (12 blocks) and inland to Rampart Street (seven to nine blocks). The Central Business District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans Louisiana. Rampart Street is a historic avenue located in New Orleans Louisiana. It equals an area of 78 sq. blocks. Some definitions, such as city zoning laws, exclude the properties facing Canal Street, which had already been redeveloped by the time architectural preservation was considered, and the section between Decatur Street and the river, much of which had long served industrial and warehousing functions. Any alteration to structures in the remaining blocks is subject to review by the Vieux Carré Commission, which determines whether the proposal is appropriate for the historic character of the district.
The National Historic Landmarked district is stated to be 85 square blocks. [1][4]
History
Many of the buildings date from before New Orleans became part of the United States, although there are some late 19th century and early 20th century buildings in the area as well. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Since the 1920s the historic buildings have been protected by law and cannot be demolished, and any renovations or new construction in the neighborhood must be done according to regulations to match the period historic architectural style. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada
Most of the French Quarter's architecture was built during the Spanish rule over New Orleans. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Great New Orleans Fire (1788) and another great fire in 1794 destroyed most of the Quarter's old French colonial architecture, leaving the colony's new Spanish overlords to rebuild it according to more modern tastes -- and strict new fire codes, which mandated that all structures be physically adjacent and close to the curb to create a firewall. The Great New Orleans Fire (1788 was a fire that destroyed 856 of the 1100 structures in New Orleans Louisiana on March 21, 1788 Year 1794 ( MDCCXCIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The old French peaked roofs were replaced with flat tiled ones, and now-banned wooden siding with fire-resistant stucco, painted in the pastel hues fashionable at the time. Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water As a result, colorful walls and roofs and elaborately decorated ironwork balconies and galleries from both the 18th century and 19th centuries abound. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system (In southeast Louisiana, a distinction is made between "balconies", which are self supporting and attached to the side of the building, and "galleries" which are supported from the ground by poles or columns. The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America )
Long after the U.S. purchase of Louisiana, Francophone creole descendants of French and Spanish colonists lived in this part of town, and the French language was often heard there as late as the start of the 1920s. For the film see Louisiana Purchase (film. The Louisiana Purchase (French Vente de la Louisiane "Louisiana Sale" The adjective francophone (alternately Francophone) means French -speaking typically as primary language whether referring to individuals groups or places This article is about an ethnic culture in Louisiana USA For uses of the term "Creole" in other countries and cultures see Creole (disambiguation. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people
When Anglophone Americans began to move in after the Louisiana Purchase, they mostly built just upriver, across modern day Canal Street. An Anglophone (or anglophone) is someone who speaks the English language. Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans Louisiana. Canal Street became the meeting place of two cultures, one francophone creole and the other anglophone American. Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans Louisiana. The adjective francophone (alternately Francophone) means French -speaking typically as primary language whether referring to individuals groups or places This article is about an ethnic culture in Louisiana USA For uses of the term "Creole" in other countries and cultures see Creole (disambiguation. An Anglophone (or anglophone) is someone who speaks the English language. (Local landowners had retained architect and surveyor Barthelemy Lafon to subdivide their property to create an American suburb). Barthelemy Lafon (1769 &ndash 29 September 1820) was a notable Architect, Engineer, City planner and surveyor in The median of the wide boulevard became a place where the two contentious cultures could meet and bilingually do business. On divided roads including Expressways Motorways or Autobahns the central reservation (British English, median (North American As such, it became known as the "neutral ground", and this name persists in the New Orleans area for medians.
In the late 19th century the Quarter became a less fashionable part of town, and many immigrants from southern Italy and Ireland settled in the section. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world In the early 20th century the Quarter's cheap rents and air of age and neglected decay attracted a bohemian and artistic community. The term bohemian, of French origin was first used in the English language in the nineteenth century to describe the untraditional lifestyles of marginalized and impoverished Artists
On December 21, 1965, the "Vieux Carre Historic District" was designated a National Historic Landmark. Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the [1][4] This was in response to the planned Vieux Carré Riverfront Expressway. The Vieux Carré Riverfront Expressway was a controversial mostly-elevated never-built Freeway that would have cut through the French Quarter (Vieux Carré of Preservation activities were led by Jacob Haight Morrison, IV (1905-1974), an attorney who headed the Vieux Carre Property Owners and Association, Inc. Jacob Haight Morrison IV ( March 12, 1905 - December 4, 1974) was a 20th century New Orleans Louisiana, Attorney, Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. An attorney at law (or attorney-at-law) in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute He was the half-brother of Mayor deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr. (1912-1963)
In the 1980s many long-term Quarter residents were driven away by rising rents as property values rose dramatically with expectations of windfalls from the planned 1984 World's Fair nearby. The post of Mayor of the city of New Orleans Louisiana has been held by the following individuals since New Orleans came under American administration following the DeLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison Sr ( January 18, 1912 -- May 22, 1964) was the mayor of New Orleans from 1946-1961 Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The 1984 Louisiana World Exposition was a World's Fair held in New Orleans Louisiana. More of the neighborhood became developed for the benefit of tourism. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel The French Quarter remains a combination of residential, hotels, guest houses, bars and tourist-oriented commercial properties.
Impact of Hurricane Katrina
At the end of August 2005, the majority of New Orleans was flooded due to levee breaches after Hurricane Katrina (see: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans). PortalCurrent events News collections and sources WikipediaNews collections and sources. Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States The effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans were shattering and long-lasting The French Quarter, like most parts of town developed before the late 19th century, was one of the areas to remain substantially dry, since it was built on dry land that predated New Orleans' levee systems and sits 5 feet (1. 5 metres) above sea level. [5] Some streets experienced minor flooding, and several buildings experienced significant wind damage. Most of the major landmarks suffered only minor damage and many have since reopened. [6] The Quarter largely escaped the looting and violence after the storm; nearly all of the antique shops and art galleries in the French Quarter, for example, were untouched. [7]
Mayor Ray Nagin officially reopened the French Quarter on September 26, 2005 to business owners to inspect property and clean up. Clarence Ray Nagin Jr (ˈneɪgɨn (born June 11, 1956) is the Mayor of New Orleans. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [8] Within a month, a large selection of French Quarter businesses were back open. The Historic New Orleans Collection's Williams Research Center annex was the first new construction completed in the French Quarter after Hurricane Katrina. The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC is a museum research center and publisher dedicated to the study and preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans [9]
Jackson Square
Jackson Square (formerly Place d'Armes), originally designed by architect and landscaper Louis H. Jackson Square, also known as Place d'Armes, is a historic park in the French Quarter of New Orleans Louisiana. Pilié (although he is only given credit for the iron fence), is an open park the size of a city-block located at the center of the French Quarter ( GPS +29. 95748 -090. 06310 ). After the Battle of New Orleans it was named after victorious general Andrew Jackson; an equestrian statue of Jackson is in the center of the park. The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815, and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson (March 15 1767 June 8 1845 was the seventh President of the United States (1829&ndash1837 An equestrian statue is a Statue of a Horse -mounted rider The term is from the Latin " eques," meaning " Knight
The square originally overlooked the Mississippi River across Decatur Street, but the view was blocked in the 19th century by the building of larger levees. The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to The riverfront was long given to shipping, but the administration of Mayor Moon Landrieu put in a scenic boardwalk along the river across from the Square; it is known as the "Moon Walk" in his honor. Maurice Edwin "Moon" Landrieu (born July 23, 1930) is a Democratic Politician from Louisiana who served as Mayor At the end of the 1980s additional old wharfs and warehouses were demolished to create Woldenberg Park, extending the riverfront promenade up to Canal Street.
On the opposite side of the square from the River are three 18th‑century historic buildings which were the city's heart in the colonial era. The center of the three is St. Louis Cathedral. Saint Louis Cathedral ( French: Cathédrale Saint-Louis) also known as the Basilica of St The Cathedral was designated a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI. This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa) was originally used to describe a Roman Pope To its left is the Cabildo, the old city hall, now a museum, where the finalization of the Louisiana Purchase was signed. For the film see Louisiana Purchase (film. The Louisiana Purchase (French Vente de la Louisiane "Louisiana Sale" To the Cathedral's right is the The Presbytere, built to match the Cabildo. The Presbytère, also known as The Presbytere, is an important historical building in New Orleans Louisiana and is located in the French Quarter along The Presbytère originally housed the city's Roman Catholic priests and authorities, it was then turned into a courthouse at the start of the 19th century, and in the 20th century became a museum.
On the other two sides of the square are the Pontalba Buildings, matching red-brick block long 4‑story buildings built in the 1840s. The Pontalba Buildings form two sides of Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans Louisiana. The ground floors house shops and restaurants; the upper floors are apartments that are the oldest continuously rented such apartments in the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
Directly across from Jackson Square is the Jax Brewery building, the original home of a local beer. Jackson Brewery, commonly known as Jax Brewery by locals is a building in the French Quarter of New Orleans Louisiana containing shops and restaurants After the company ceased to operate independently, the building was converted into several businesses, including restaurants and specialty shops. In recent years, some retail space has been converted into riverfront condominiums.
From the 1920s through the 1980s the square was famous as a gathering place of painters, young art students and caricaturists. Painting (pān'tīng in Art, is the practice of applying Color to a Surface (support base such as e In the 1990s the artists were joined by tarot card readers, mimes, fortune tellers and street performers. The tarot (also known as tarocchi, tarock or similar names is typically a set of seventy-eight cards comprised of twenty-one trump cards, one
Live music has been a regular feature of the entire quarter, including the Square for more than a century. Formal concerts do take place, albeit rarely, and musicians are known to play for tips.
Diagonally across the square from the Cabildo is Café du Monde, open 24 hours a day, well known for the café au lait, coffee spiced with chicory and beignets served there continuously since the 19th century. Café du Monde is a coffee shop on Decatur Street in the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. Café au lait ( French for "coffee with milk" is a French coffee drink Common Chicory ( Cichorium intybus) is a bushy perennial Herb with blue lavender or occasionally white Flowers It grows Beignets de pommes de terrejpg|thumb|Potato-Beignet in the Upper Savoy]]A beignet ( pronounced ben–YAY from the Middle French word for "bump" in It is a custom to blow the powdered sugar onto anyone who is going there for the first time, while making a wish.
Other French Quarter sights
Other well known sights in the French Quarter include the French Market; Bourbon Street (The most famous of the French Quarter streets, which includes a row of bars and clubs much visited by tourists); and Royal Street (with elegant antique shops and art galleries). The French Market is a market and series of commercial buildings in the French Quarter of New Orleans Louisiana, USA Bourbon Street (Rue Bourbon is a famous and historic street that runs the length of the French Quarter in New Orleans Louisiana. Royal Street is a street in New Orleans Louisiana. It is one of the oldest streets in the city dating from the French Colonial era and is most well-known for the antique
Bars
The French Quarter is famous, or perhaps notorious, for its drinking establishments. Most of the ones commonly patronized by tourists on upper Bourbon Street are more recent businesses in old buildings, but the Quarter also has a number of notable bars with interesting histories.
The Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street has kept its name even though for almost a century absinthe was illegal in the US. Absinthe is traditionally a distilled, highly alcoholic (45%-75% ABV) beverage
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a tavern located on the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a site in the French Quarter of New Orleans Louisiana. Philip Street. The tavern's building, built sometime before 1772, is one of the older still standing structures in New Orleans (the Ursuline Convent, for example, is older) and has been called the oldest continually occupied bar in the United States. Ursuline Convent, also known as Old Ursuline Convent is an historic Ursuline Convent in New Orleans Louisiana. According to legend the structure was once owned by the pirate Jean Lafitte, though as with many things involving Lafitte, no documentation of this exists. Jean Lafitte (ca 1776 - ca 1826 was a Privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century
The Napoleon House bar & restaurant is in the former home of mayor Nicholas Girod; the name comes from an unrealized plot to rescue Napoleon I from his exile in St. The Napoleon House is a famous building in the French Quarter of New Orleans Louisiana. Nicholas Girod (1747-1840 was the fifth mayor of New Orleans between 1812 to 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Helena and bring him to New Orleans.
The original Johnny White's bar is a favorite of bikers. MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. In 2005 an off-shoot called Johnny White's Hole in the Wall, along with Molly's at the Market, drew national media attention as the only businesses in the city to stay open throughout Hurricane Katrina and the tribulations of the weeks after the storm.
The Bourbon Pub and Oz, both located at the intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann, are the two largest gay clubs in New Orleans. Café Lafitte in Exile, located at the intersection of Bourbon and Dumaine is the oldest continuously running gay bar in the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the These and other gay establishments sponsor the raucous Southern Decadence Festival during Labor Day weekend. Southern Decadence is a week-long predominantly gay-male event held in New Orleans Louisiana and its environs by the gay and lesbian community in early September Labor Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September This festival is often referred to as New Orleans' Gay Mardi Gras. Southern Decadence is a week-long predominantly gay-male event held in New Orleans Louisiana and its environs by the gay and lesbian community in early September St. Ann Street is often called "the Velvet Line" in reference to it being on the edge of the French Quarter's predominately gay district. While there is a gay population throughout the French Quarter, the portion of the Quarter that is northeast of St. Ann Street is generally considered to be the Gay District.
The French Quarter is one of only a few places in the United States where possession and consumption of alcohol in open containers is allowed on the street. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In the United States, open container laws prohibit possessing and/or drinking from an open container of alcohol in certain areas
Restaurants
The neighborhood contains many restaurants, ranging from formal to casual, patronized by both visitors and locals. Some are well known landmarks, such as Antoine's, Galatoire's, and Tujague's, which have been in business since the 19th century; Arnaud's and Brennan's are only slightly less venerable. Antoine's is a Louisiana Creole cuisine Restaurant located at 713 Rue St Galatoire’s is a Restaurant on Bourbon Street (209 Bourbon St Arnaud's is a well known Restaurant in New Orleans Louisiana, USA. Brennan's is a creole restaurant in the French Quarter of New Orleans Louisiana. Less historic, but also well-known French Quarter restaurants include those run by famous chefs Paul Prudhomme ("K-Paul's") and Emeril Lagasse ("NOLA"). Paul Prudhomme (born July 13, 1940) is an American Chef famous for his Cajun cuisine. Emeril John Lagasse (born October 15 1959) is an American Celebrity chef, Restaurateur, Television personality and
Hotels
There are several types of accommodations in the French Quarter ranging from large international chains to bed and breakfasts to time share condominiums to small guest houses with only one or two rooms. Hotel Maison De Ville and the Audubon Cottages were built as a townhouses in 1800. Hotel Maison de Ville and the Audubon Cottages is a hotel located in the French Quarter of New Orleans Louisiana, north of Jackson Square. The Audobon Cottages were home to Antoine Amedée Peychaud during its history. Tennessee Williams (with the French Quarter providing the setting for aruguably his most famous play, A Streetcar Named Desire) was a frequent guest and the hotel works to maintain its historic ambiance. Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26 1911 &ndash February 25 1983 better known as Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright who received many of the top theatrical A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play written by American playwright Tennessee Williams for which he received the Pulitzer Prize
Surrounding neighborhoods
Up river from the Quarter is the city's Central Business District. The Central Business District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. Away from the river is the Faubourg Tremé neighborhood. Tremé (historically sometimes called Tremé or Faubourg Tremé or Tremé/Lafitte when including the Lafitte Projects) is a Down river is the Faubourg Marigny. The Marigny (often referred to as Faubourg Marigny) is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans.
References
- ^ a b c Vieux Carre Historic District. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor
- ^ New Orleans French Quarter History, Architecture and Pictures
- ^ a b Patricia Heintzelman (February, 1975), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Vieux Carre Historic DistrictPDF (617 KiB), National Park Service
- ^ [1]
- ^ FrenchQuarter.com: The Essential Guide to New Orleans' Oldest Neighborhood
- ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rumors27sep27,0,5492806,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines
- ^ [2]
- ^ THNOC - WRC Addition
External links
- WikiTravel:New Orleans/French Quarter
- FrenchQuarter.com: Your Essential Guide to New Orleans' Oldest Neighborhood
- QuarterCrawl.com: An up-to-date list of what's open in the French Quarter
- Harriet Joor: The City of Iron Lace
- National Historic Landmarks Program: Vieux Carré Historic District
- Vieux Carré:A Creole Neighborhood in New Orleans, a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan
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