Fighting for Every Brick

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The Pitot House is a rare survivor, one of the only Creole Colonial-style country homes still open to the public in New Orleans. Built in 1799 on the banks of Bayou St. John, it's a glimpse into a vanished era of West Indies-style architecture.

But by the mid-twentieth century, this historic gem faced a different kind of environmental risk: urban demolition. To save the house from being torn down, the entire structure was moved in 1964. Interestingly, the act of lifting and shifting the house actually uncovered original decorative elements that had been hidden for decades, which then helped guide its full restoration.

It took a literal leap of faith to keep this piece of history from becoming a pile of rubble.

Updated June 2026