New Orleans, Orleans Parish story
A Bayou Retreat
Tucked away on the banks of Bayou St. John is the Pitot House, a rare glimpse into the city's early country life. Built in 1799, it's the only example of a Creole Colonial-style c…
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Tucked away on the banks of Bayou St. John is the Pitot House, a rare glimpse into the city's early country life. Built in 1799, it's the only example of a Creole Colonial-style country home still open to the public.
The house has a fascinating survival story; in 1964, it was actually moved to save it from demolition. That move uncovered original decorative elements that helped experts restore it to its former glory. Inside, you'll find brick floors and exposed wood beam ceilings on the ground floor, while the upstairs features carved wood mantels and colors influenced by the Caribbean.
It stands as a quiet, elegant reminder of the West Indies-style architecture that once dotted the outskirts of the growing city.
Updated June 2026