Founded in 1718 by France, New Orleans was named after the Duke of Orleans. As the decades passed, New Orleans became known for being the first place in the U.S. to host an opera performance and the eventual birthplace of jazz music. Unique landmarks give New Orleans an aura like no other; for example, the Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest continuous bridge over water and measures nearly 24 miles. Other characteristics that make New Orleans an anomaly include its above ground burials and law requiring the wearing of masks on Mardi Gras floats. With 21 historic districts, there is no shortage of places to explore and people to learn about it in New Orleans. With strong Creole cultural influences, the city is also known for its delicious Cajun cuisine and laid-back atmosphere (hence its nickname “The Big Easy”). Travel to New Orleans with Gray Line Worldwide and make sure that all your must-see destinations are checked off!
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Also known as Vieux Carre (Old Square), the French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans and was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste le Moyne de Bienville. Characterized by distinctive Spanish and French Creole architecture, the French Quarter features cast-iron balconies, courtyards, and Laurel columns. The Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 and 1794 destroyed approximately 80% of the neighborhood’s buildings, but the renovated layout includes 78 square blocks bordered by the Mississippi River, Canal Street, Rampart Street, and Esplanade Avenue. Particularly famous for its nightlife, Bourbon Street is a popular tourist hub during Mardi Gras and is well-frequented due to its bars and clubs.
As one of the longest rivers in the United States, the Mississippi River stretches approximately 2,340 miles. Since the early 19th century, New Orleans has been part of a robust steamboat heritage beginning with the 1817 operation of the New Orleans Steamboat Company. Nowadays, the historic Steamboat Natchez is one of only six authentic steamboats still operational on the Mississippi River and provides guests with a unique dining experience that includes a traditional Creole buffet lunch, live jazz music, and complimentary beverages. The cruises typically include narrated histories of the Mississippi River and tell guests stories about the Battle of New Orleans and other regional events.
New Orleans’ Garden District is a picturesque neighborhood known for its beautiful architecture, lush gardens, and diverse community. Situated in the Uptown area and defined by the boundaries of Magazine, Josephine, Carondelet, and Delachaise streets, the district was originally part of the Livaudais plantation and later incorporated into New Orleans as part of the City of Lafayette in 1852. The area features several large lots that were originally intended for gardens, and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is one of New Orleans’ oldest city-governed cemeteries that is also within the Garden District’s precincts. Today, the area is home to many celebrities who have made the high-profile neighborhood their home.
A prominent military history museum that opened in 2000, the National WWII Museum opened on June 6, the 56th anniversary of the D-Day landings. It was designated the United States’ official National WWII Museum in 2004. The museum highlights the significance of the Higgins boats, which were essential to the amphibious operations of the war and were designed in New Orleans. Upon entering, visitors are given a “dog tag” that allows them to follow a specific individual’s story through the exhibits. These displays include the Road to Berlin – focused on the European theater of water after the Allied invasion of France – the Road to Tokyo, and a 4-D film titled “Beyond All Boundaries,” which provides a Tom Hanks-led narration of WWII.
Found on Dauphine Street, the Museum of Death opened in 2015 as the sister museum of its original location in Hollywood, California. With an array of exhibits related to death, the museum features antique mortuary equipment, funeral art, and memorabilia from serial killers. One of the most popular areas of the museum, the serial killer display features past possessions of infamous killers like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy. The museum’s “Theater of Death” also provides unedited video recordings of autopsies and death scenes to provide a real-life look at the end of life. Body bags, shrunken heads, and other morbid curiosities are frequent fixtures of this unique attraction.
Named after an ammunition magazine located in the vicinity during the 18th century, Magazine Street is situated in a historic area of New Orleans that served as a warehouse and commercial hub. Following a major fire in 1788, Magazine Street’s layout matched a larger plan for a street grid designed by city surveyor Carlos Trudeau. In the 19th century, the street was extended significantly through the efforts of surveyor Barthelemy Lafon, and public food markets greatly contributed to the area’s increased foot traffic. Today, the street is a renowned shopping destination home to numerous boutiques, artisan shops, and well-known restaurants. Historic homes sit adjacent to shops, and many Mardi Gras parades begin along the contours of Magazine Street. Don’t leave until you sample some of the local delicacies served at one of the nearby establishments.
Located in City Park, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) was established in 1911 and is known as the oldest fine arts museum in the city. Initially, the museum opened with only nine works of art on display. The creation of the museum was made possible by a charitable grant from local philanthropist Isaac Delgado, which is why NOMA originally was called the “Delgado Museum of Art.” Now, the museum boasts over 40,000 works of art that span 5,000 years of human existence. The collection includes a strong focus on American and French art, African and Japanese art, photography, and glass art. The $23-million renovated building includes the Wisner Education Wing and the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Check out NOMA’s calendar of events to see if you’ll be in town for an exhibition!
Spanning over 1,300 acres, City Park is the largest urban park in New Orleans and the 87th largest in the U.S. It attracts more than 16 million visitors to its green slopes each year, 67% of that coming from surrounding areas like Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Designated as a public park by the Fourth District Court in 1854, the park was born out of the lands of Allard Plantation, an area donated in 1850 by owner John McDonogh. In 1891, the City Park Improvement Association focused on updating the park’s facilities and adding attractions that appealed to families. The park is home to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, which features over 2,000 plants, and the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, an area filled with over 90 sculptures in an open-air gallery.
Located in the historic Hotel Monteleone, the Carousel Piano Bar & Lounge overlooks Royal Street in the French Quarter. The bar opened its doors in 1949 and, to this day, is the first and only rotating bar in New Orleans. Designed to mimic a classic carousel, the bar gently rotates patrons while they enjoy their drinks. The rotation mechanism uses 2,000 large steel rollers and is powered by a ¼ horsepower motor, which allows it to create one complete revolution every 15 minutes. Unsurprisingly, the Carousel Bar is very popular and only seats 25 people at a time, which means that long waits are not infrequent. Numerous celebrities are known to visit the bar, including Liberace, who was the inaugural performer when the bar opened.
Opening in 1990, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is operated by the Audubon Nature Institute, which also manages several other nature-centered organizations in Louisiana. Situated along the banks of the Mississippi River near the French Quarter, the aquarium is home to over 3,600 animals that represent about 250 species. Major exhibits include the Great Maya Reef, Amazon Rainforest, Mississippi River, and Gulf of Mexico. The latter has a depth of 17 feet and contains 400,000 gallons. The aquarium features a rare leucistic (not albino) alligator, which is just one of 18 known to exist in the wild.
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