A Legacy in the Faubourg Marigny

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True community activism often starts with the courage to invest in a neighborhood when no one else will. In 1806, Rosette Rochon, a wealthy free woman of color, did exactly that. She purchased land from Bernard de Marigny and became a prominent developer and early investor in the Faubourg Marigny.

By building multiple houses on her parcels, including a classic Creole cottage on Pauger Street, she helped shape the physical and social fabric of the district. Rosette lived to the incredible age of 103, leaving behind an estate valued at one hundred thousand dollars and a lasting imprint on the city. Today, her former home serves as a museum dedicated to her memory, reminding us that the growth of New Orleans was driven not just by official planners, but by the ambition and vision of independent women of color.

Updated June 2026