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Category: History
The Meeting of the Courts: When Rex Met Comus
While Mardi Gras is known for its lavish parades and costumed revelry, there is also an air of romance and mystery which is sometimes overlooked. Though thousands gather to watch elaborate floats pass by, crying out for various trinkets, few give thought to the royalty waving at the crowds. Masked or bare-faced, the Royal Courts…
Adapt or Die: How Mardi Gras Narrowly Avoided Being Outlawed
No one does Mardi Gras like New Orleans. We’re known worldwide for our lavish displays of excess in the parades, costumes, and parties that abound during Carnival season. King Cake parties and days of eating gumbo with family give way to the final spectacle of Fat Tuesday when Zulu and Rex rule the day and…
Twelfth Night and The Feast of the Epiphany
Many consider December 25th and Christmas Day to be the end of the Christmas season. Trees and decorations are taken down before the new year begins and the idea of continuing to feast after that belly-busting Christmas dinner is unthinkable. But for those who know the 12 Days of Christmas as more than a seasonal…
How a Bluff and a Battle Shaped New Orleans
New Orleans. Lawrence N. Powell calls it “The Accidental City” in his book of the same name. Peirce Lewis memorably named it “an impossible but inevitable city” in his book, New Orleans: The Making of an Urban Landscape. Both men have a point. New Orleans was and is a very unlikely place. We sit in…
Kringle Cake: A Long Way from There to Here
In a world of elaborately decorated buttercream and fondant cakes, the Kringle is easy to overlook. At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than an oversized iced Danish or maybe a flattened King Cake. But look closer and you’ll notice dozens of flaky, lighter than air layers under that smear of icing. Hiding…
Visions of Christmas Past on Canal Street
Canal Street in New Orleans is a magical place at Christmas. Snow appears in Fulton Alley despite temperatures often being a balmy 70 degrees, streetcars and lamp posts bear wreaths, and thousands upon thousands of lights glow throughout the giant live oaks of City Park. Countless people take in these sights every year, often stopping…
Take a Streetcar Tour for the Holidays
If you’ve ever been in New Orleans for the holidays, you know the city loves to dress itself in all the finery of the season. It seems every home is jeweled and crowned by twinkling lights while oak and palm trees are swathed with wreaths and ribbons. To truly appreciate the festive displays this winter,…
Creators of Culture: The History of the Faubourg Treme
Few neighborhoods in the world can take credit for as many culturally groundbreaking events as New Orleans’ own Faubourg Treme. Though it occupies only a small area of the city, the Treme has had a mighty impact worldwide through the invention of Jazz, initiating the first Civil Rights movement in the United States, and by…
Thoroughbreds and Tall Hats: A Thanksgiving Tradition in New Orleans
New Orleans has a long list of holiday traditions. Whether it’s a yearly trip to Celebration in the Oaks or The Vampire Ball, our unique history has created a multitude of events you can only find in the Crescent City. Attending the opening day at the New Orleans’ Fair Grounds Race Track is one of…
The Colorful History of New Orleans’ First Suburb: The Faubourg Marigny
People from all around the globe come to enjoy New Orleans every year.Whether they prefer a scenic streetcar ride up the live oak lined avenue of St. Charles or a slow stroll through the Vieux Carre, what many visitors don’t know is a place as charming and picturesque rests just outside the French Quarter. It’s…
Marie Laveau: A Legend in Her Own Time
How are legends made? One whisper at a time. Or at least such seems to be the case with New Orleans’ most famous practitioner of Voodoo, Marie Laveau. Her name is known worldwide and, while verifiable facts of her life are scarce at best, there is no shortage of stories about the woman New Orleans…
The Unusual History of Audubon Park
Come walk the strange, winding trail of history that lead to today’s Audubon Park. Whether it’s your first time in New Orleans or you’re a verified local, one of the city’s must-see destinations is Audubon Park. Home to ancient live oaks, lagoons, walking trails, and one of the nation’s best zoos, the park also contains…