A Guide for Travelers to New Orleans
When hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, many people worried whether New Orleans could recover. Today the exotic city is bustling with new construction, pioneering sustainable design, and massive historic preservation projects. Plan your trip to New Orleans to include these must-see buildings.Nicknames for New Orleans:
New Orleans is often called The Big Easy, which was the name of a popular 19th century dance hall. Over time, the name came to suggest that people who live in New Orleans are relaxed and easy-going.
New Orleans is also called the Crescent City because neighborhoods developed along the crescent-shaped curve of the Mississippi River.
Must-See Buildings in New Orleans:
- St. Louis Cathedral: Constructed in the 1700s.
- Pontalba Apartments: Built by the Baroness Michaela Pontalba.
- Louisiana Superdome: Enormous sports arena.
- Old Ursuline Convent: Oldest building in the Mississippi Valley.
- Le Petit Theatre: Community theater in a 16th century building.
New Orleans House Tours:
- Oak Valley Plantation: Grand antebellum plantation home near New Orleans.
- Degas House: Home of French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas in 1872-1873; now an inn.
- Pitot House: A Creole colonial country house museum.
- Beauregard-Keyes House: Historic center hall colonial home.
- Gallier House: 1857 home by architect James Gallier, Jr.
- Hermann Grima House: Federal style mansion.
- Longue Vue House and Gardens: Classical Revival-style mansion.
New Orleans Walking Tours:
- Garden District: Grand mansions.
- French Quarter: Jackson Square, historic cathedral, and important landmarks.
- City Park: 1,300 acres with lagoons, bridges, fountains, gardens, and stadiums.
- New Orleans Cemetery Tours
New Orleans Periods and Styles:
Historic Hotels in New Orleans:
Hurricane Recovery in New Orleans:
Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005. Levees failed, neighborhoods flooded, and historic buildings were lost.
Although parts of New Orleans are still damaged, the French Quarter and other tourist areas are intact and many historic buildings have been beautifully restored. Moreover, the destruction caused by the hurricane and its aftermath inspired innovative new developments in affordable, sustainable home design.
