What is the Rosette Rochon House?

The Rosette Rochon House is a historic Creole cottage located at 1515 Pauger Street in New Orleans. It served as the home of Rosette Rochon, a wealthy free woman of color and prominent real estate developer in the Faubourg Marigny.

Who was Rosette Rochon?

Rosette Rochon was a wealthy free woman of color born in Mobile, Alabama, who became a real estate mogul and the owner of the first chain of grocery stores in New Orleans. She was one of the first people to buy land from Bernard de Marigny in the early 1800s.

What is the house's architectural style?

The house is a first-generation Creole cottage featuring briquette-entre-poteaux (brick-between-post) construction. It was built directly on the sidewalk, or banquette.

When was the Rosette Rochon House built?

Estimates vary, with some sources stating it was erected around 1815, while others suggest it was built in the late 1820s or early 1830s.

Is the house now a museum?

Yes, the house has functioned as a museum dedicated to the memory of Rosette Rochon.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

Rosette Rochon House in New Orleans

What to know

The Rosette Rochon House, located at 1515 Pauger Street, is a rare surviving example of a first-generation Creole cottage. The structure features a distinct briquette-entre-poteaux construction, which translates to brick-between-post, and is uniquely positioned directly on the sidewalk, or banquette. Depending on the historical record, the house was erected between 1815 and the early 1830s, serving as the residence of one of New Orleans' most successful early entrepreneurs. Rosette Rochon was born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1760 and was a wealthy free woman of color. Born into slavery, she rose to become a prominent developer and early investor in the Faubourg Marigny. Using inherited money from her father, she became the first person to purchase land from Bernard de Marigny in 1806, establishing her as a real estate mogul of the early 19th century. Beyond real estate, Rochon was a mastermind behind the corner-store concept in New Orleans. She acquired corner lots and established a chain of grocery stores, which became a foundational element of the city's urban fabric. Her business acumen was evident in her estate, which was valued at $100,000 upon her death in 1863 at the age of 103. Today, the property is documented as a site of African American history and conservation. The home's restoration was undertaken by the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, ensuring that the legacy of this extraordinary woman who lived in the house until 1855, when she sold it to her daughter Zelime Hardy, is preserved for future generations.

Visitor tips

Look closely at the walls to identify the briquette-entre-poteaux (brick-between-post) construction style.
Notice how the house is built directly on the sidewalk, a characteristic of early Creole cottages.
Allow extra time to explore the surrounding Faubourg Marigny neighborhood to see other examples of early 19th-century architecture.

Nearby context

The Rosette Rochon House is situated in the heart of the Faubourg Marigny, a neighborhood known for its historic Creole cottages and early urban planning. It stands as a testament to the early development of the Faubourg Marigny, which was originally a subdivision of land purchased from Bernard de Marigny.