A House on the Move

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Imagine a house so precious that when it faced demolition, the city didn't just tear it down—they picked it up and moved it. That's the story of Pitot House. Built in 1799 on the banks of Bayou St.

John, this West Indies-style home is one of the oldest surviving Creole country homes open to the public. In 1964, it was physically relocated to save it from the wrecking ball. The move actually became a blessing in disguise; as the house was shifted, original decorative elements were uncovered, which gave restorers the clues they needed to bring the home back to its former glory.

Today, you can still see that history in the brick floors of the ground level and the carved wood mantels upstairs. It stands as a rare surviving example of Creole Colonial architecture, proving that sometimes, the best way to save the past is to move it.

Updated June 2026