New Orleans, Orleans Parish story
A Legacy of Wealth and Will
The story of Rosette Rochon and her historic home.
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At 1515 Pauger Street, you'll find a modest Creole cottage that tells a story of incredible ambition. This was the home of Rosette Rochon, a wealthy free woman of color born in 1760. Rosette wasn't just a homeowner; she was a prominent developer and early investor in the Faubourg Marigny, purchasing land from Bernard de Marigny in 1806.
She lived a remarkably long life, passing away in 1863 at the age of one hundred and three. When she died, she left behind an estate valued at one hundred thousand dollars—a staggering sum for the time. Her house, built directly on the sidewalk, stands today as a museum to her memory and a testament to the success of the gens de couleur libres in early New Orleans.
Updated June 2026