New Orleans, Orleans Parish story
A Canal that Never Was
Canal Street is the retail heart of New Orleans, but its unusual width tells a story of a plan that failed. The street is 171 feet wide because an 1807 Act of Congress reserved a…
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Canal Street is the retail heart of New Orleans, but its unusual width tells a story of a plan that failed. The street is 171 feet wide because an 1807 Act of Congress reserved a right-of-way for a planned canal that was never actually built. Despite the missing waterway, the street became a showcase retail boulevard by the late 19th century, bustling with early electric lighting, streetcars, and steamboats.
In 1884, the Canal Street Historic District was designated to preserve this character. From the ornate Italianate-style buildings to the U.S. Custom House at 423 Canal Street, the boulevard remains a visually impressive landmark that bridges the gap between the French Quarter and the rest of the city.
Updated June 2026