Stories
New Orleans stories for walks, landmarks, and local context
Short, source-backed reads that explain what you are seeing while you move through the city.
City story
A Gift from Spain
Stroll along the riverfront and you'll encounter Spanish Plaza, a beautiful piece of public art and architecture nestled by the Riverw…
City story
A Home for a Literary Giant
In the nineteen-twenties, a young writer named William Faulkner lived in a townhouse at six-twenty-four Pirates Alley. It was here, in…
City story
A House for the Heat
Long before modern air conditioning, New Orleans architects had to get creative to survive the brutal humidity. Take Madame John's Leg…
City story
A House on the Move
Imagine a house so precious that when it faced demolition, the city didn't just tear it down—they picked it up and moved it. That's th…
City story
A Legacy in the Faubourg Marigny
True community activism often starts with the courage to invest in a neighborhood when no one else will. In 1806, Rosette Rochon, a we…
City story
A Legacy in the Square
Long before it was the tourist hub we know today, Jackson Square was a military parade ground known as Place d'Armes. Laid out in 1721…
City story
A Legacy in the Tremé
In the heart of the culturally vital Tremé neighborhood, there's a spot called Kermit's Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge. It originally open…
City story
A Legacy of Design
In 1788, a devastating fire destroyed much of New Orleans, forcing the city to rebuild from the ashes. Out of that destruction came so…
City story
A Legacy of Fiction
At 624 Pirates Alley, the line between history and literature blurs. This townhouse, built in 1837, was home to William Faulkner in th…
City story
A Legacy of Free Women
Few figures represent the complexity of old New Orleans like Rosette Rochon. Born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1760, Rosette was a wealthy f…
City story
A Legacy of Resilience
Rosette Rochon was born in Mobile, Alabama, in seventeen-sixty, and she became one of the most successful women of her era. A wealthy…
City story
A Legacy of Wealth
At 1515 Pauger Street stands a typical Creole cottage with a remarkable story. This was the home of Rosette Rochon, a wealthy free wom…
City story
A Legacy of Wealth
In the heart of the Faubourg Marigny, there's a Creole cottage that tells a story of resilience and ambition. This was the home of Ros…
City story
A Legacy Rebuilt
The Beauregard-Keyes House is a stunning example of a raised cottage, but for twenty years, it was almost a ruin. Between 1926 and 194…
City story
A Lesson in Hospitality
In Central City, there's a restaurant where the menu is a tool for transformation. Founded in 1996 by Craig Cuccia and Reverend Harry…
City story
A Lighthouse in the City
Standing tall in the Central Business District is the Hibernia Bank Building, established in 1921. For decades, it was the tallest bui…
City story
A Linear Park
If you want to see how the city expanded away from the river, follow the tracks of the St. Charles Avenue streetcar. This isn't just a…
City story
A Linear Park
St. Charles Avenue is more than just a road; locals often describe it as a historic linear park. As you ride the iconic green streetca…
City story
A Linear Park
If you follow the tracks of the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar, you're not just on a transit line—you're traveling through a historic li…
City story
A Literary Landmark
Hidden just off Jackson Square, behind the Cabildo, lies a townhouse built in 1837 that serves as a shrine to one of America's greates…
City story
A Literary Landmark
If you wander down Pirates Alley, you'll find a townhouse built in 1837 that holds a special place in American literature. This was th…
City story
A Literary Landmark
At 624 Pirates Alley, a townhouse built in 1837 has transitioned from a private sanctuary to a public celebration of letters. In the 1…
City story
A Literary Landmark
Tucked away on Pirates Alley is a bookstore that feels more like a sanctuary than a shop. Faulkner House Books opened in 1990, specifi…