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Sightseeing Overview
Although New Orleans has plenty of tourist attractions (all of the major ones have reopened since Hurricane Katrina) some of the best sightseeing is done informally. A leisurely stroll through the French Quarter reveals quaint shops, hidden courtyards and beautiful old Creole-style houses with their decorative, cast-iron balconies. A walk in the leafy Garden District leads past stately pre-war mansions, while an amble along the riverfront unveils a scene of great barges and paddle wheelers.

Most visitors head first for the historic Downtown area (the French Quarter) also called the Vieux Carré (Old Square). Laid out on a grid, it covers an area of about six by 12 city blocks, with Jackson Square at its center.

The Upper French Quarter, stretching from Jackson Square to Canal Street and down to the riverfront, contains the most popular sights. Woldenberg Riverfront Park, with its wooden promenade known as Moon Walk, offers beautiful views of the Mississippi.

The Lower French Quarter includes the recently renovated French Market. Downtown also encompasses the Central Business District (CBD) and the Warehouse District, a renovated area of art galleries and studios, bars and restaurants.

To the southwest of the French Quarter is Uptown, where the Garden District is located. Bordering the French Quarter to the east is the Faubourg Marigny, a historic district with a bohemian feel, slowly reviving itself with bars, restaurants and nightlife spots. Across the river from downtown is Algiers, on the Westbank, which is another good area for strolling.

Tourist Information
New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau
2020 St Charles Avenue
Tel: (504) 566 5011 or 1 800 748 8695.
Website: www.neworleanscvb.com
Opening hours: Daily 0800-1700.

There is also a Welcome Center in the French Quarter on Jackson Square, 529 St Ann Street (tel: (504) 568 5661) open daily 0830-1700. Dining and accommodation reservations can be made from the website; you can also find information and make reservations through the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation’s site, www.neworleansonline.com.

Passes
There are no formal visitor discount passes, however, visitors will receive a 20% discount on tickets to two or more of the following Louisiana State Museums (tel: (504) 568 6968 or 1 800 568 6968; website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us), if purchased at the same time: the Cabildo, Presbytère, Old Mint and 1850 House.

Key Attractions:

French Quarter
Also known as the Vieux Carré (Old Square), the French Quarter covers a grid of some 98 square blocks stretching back from Decatur Street, which runs parallel to the Mississippi River. Dating from 1718, it is one of the oldest districts in the country, with superb 18th- and 19th-century architecture. Apart from the Ursuline Convent, which dates from 1745, the early French buildings were destroyed in two devastating fires in 1788 and 1794. The handsome buildings erected after this time, with their arches, fanlights and filigreed wrought-iron balconies, are actually Spanish in character.

The focal point of the French Quarter is Jackson Square, arguably the loveliest square in America, with its Louis XIV-style garden landscaping and the symmetry of the stately buildings flanking the square - the Pontalba Buildings, St Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo and Presbytère (see below). Artists, tarot card readers, mimes and tourists are returning, following the Katrina disaster; tourism is showing signs of booming again.

The other famous spot in the French Quarter is just north of Jackson Square - Bourbon Street, famous for its jazz clubs, bars and novelty shops. Other highlights to look out for in the French Quarter include historic tavern Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop and Madame John’s Legacy, a house with unique West Indian architecture and early Creole-colonial home design, dating from 1788. All attractions in this area have reopened, but it is always wise to call first to verify hours and admission information.

Between Decatur Street and North Rampart Street (north to south) and between Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue (east to west).

Old Ursuline Convent
1100 Chartres Street
Tel: (504) 529 2651 (St Mary’s Cathedral).
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1600. Tours are Tues-Fri 1000, 1100, 1300, 1400 and 1500, Sat-Sun 1115, 1300 and 1400.
Admission charge.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
941 Bourbon Street
Tel: (504) 593 9761.
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1100-0200, Fri-Sun 1000-0330.
Free admission.

Madame John’s Legacy
632 Dumaine Street
Tel: (504) 568 6968.
Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1700.
Admission charge.

Cabildo
Built between 1795 and 1799, this handsome building takes its name from the Spanish council, or cabildo, which met here in colonial times. It is a fine example of the Spanish colonial style and its wrought-iron balcony railing is arguably the most outstanding work from that period in the city. In 1803, in a room called the Sala Capitular on the second floor, France signed the Louisiana Purchase, which ceded a huge territory west of the Mississippi, including New Orleans, to the United States. Today, the Cabildo houses a museum of Louisiana history. Among the exhibits are the colony’s founding stone and Napoleon Bonaparte’s death mask.

701 Chartres Street, Jackson Square
Tel: (504) 568 6968.
Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us  
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1700.
Admission charge.

1850 House
Set in one of the Pontalba Buildings (the twin rows of mid 19th-century brick townhouses lining opposite sides of Jackson Square), the 1850 House has been restored to depict a typical New Orleans residence of that era. It comprises a central court and rooms on three storys, which are filled with authentic period furnishings. Of particular note are the decorative cast-iron railings, which superseded the traditional hand-worked wrought iron of the French Quarter. Look for the letters A and P in the design - the initials of Madame Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, the wealthy heiress who erected the Pontalba Buildings and made other improvements around Jackson Square.

523 St Ann Street
Tel: (504) 568 6968.
Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1700.
Admission charge.

St Louis Cathedral
The simple yet elegant facade of St Louis Cathedral is a focal point of Jackson Square. Named after the former king of France, this is the oldest cathedral in the United States. It is the third church built on this site; the first was destroyed by a hurricane in 1722 and the second by a fire in 1788. The present building, dedicated as a cathedral in 1794, was extensively remodeled in 1849-51 to the specifications of architect, JNB de Pouilly. When Pope Paul VI visited in 1964, he designated it a minor basilica.

615 Père Antoine Alley
Tel: (504) 525 9585.
Website: http://stlouiscathedral.org
Opening hours: Tours Wed-Sat 1300-1600.
Free admission.

Presbytère
Designed in 1791 as a rectory for the priests of St Louis Cathedral, the Presbytère was finally completed in 1813. By then, New Orleans had become part of the United States and the church rented the building to the city for use as a courthouse; it was then sold to the city in 1853. Today, the landmark property houses a dazzling collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia, from masks and costumes to videos and interactive displays about the history of the event. There are also exhibits of local art and decorative arts.

751 Chartres Street
Tel: (504) 568 6968.
Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1700.
Admission charge.

Hermann-Grima House
Built in 1831, for Samuel Hermann, a wealthy merchant, and later sold to attorney Felix Grima, this Federal-style house is among the best examples of American architecture in the Vieux Carré. The highlight is the Creole kitchen, where cooking demonstrations take place over the open hearth, all day on Thursdays from October to May. There are also period rooms and a restored stable.

820 St Louis Street
Tel: (504) 525 5661.
Website: www.hgghh.org
Opening hours: Tours daily at 1000, 1100, 1200, 1400 and 1500.
Admission charge.

Old US Mint
Completed in 1835, the Old US Mint manufactured Confederate money during the Civil War and continued to mint US coins until 1909. Its thick walls also served as a prison when Union troops captured the city. Today, as part of the Louisiana State Museum, it houses the excellent New Orleans Jazz Collection, which features music, artifacts and instruments, such as Louis Armstrong’s first trumpet. Also here are the archives of the Louisiana Historical Center.

400 Esplanade Avenue
Tel: (504) 568 6968.
Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us  
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1700.
Admission charge.

French Market
Running for several blocks along Decatur and North Peters Streets, the French Market is one of the most colorful spots in the city. It dates back to colonial times, when a Native American trading post operated here, and was a busy open-air market during the Spanish and French eras. Renovated buildings, such as the Butchers’ Market (1813), now house cafes, shops and offices, while street performers give the outdoor areas a festive feel. The large covered sheds, built in 1936 as a public works project, house the Farmers’ Market, where fresh produce is sold, and the Flea Market, with an assortment of clothes, jewelry, hot sauces and other New Orleans souvenirs.

Along Decatur and North Peters Streets
Tel: (504) 522 2621.
Website: www.frenchmarket.org
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800.
Free admission.

Garden District
Stretching from St Charles Avenue to Magazine Street and between Louisiana and Jackson Avenues, the Garden District is an elegant National Historic District of pre-war homes. Originally a separate city called Lafayette, which was annexed by New Orleans in 1852, the Garden District was first laid out in the 1820s and was settled by wealthy American businessmen. The handsome Greek revival mansions are still private residences and are not open to the public. But a daytime stroll through this district of leafy streets and impressive architecture is very rewarding. One of the grandest homes is the Robinson House, 1415 Third Street, which resembles an Italian villa and was possibly the first house in the city to have indoor plumbing. Author Anne Rice’s home, Rosegate, is at the corner of First Street and Chestnut Street. In the center of the Garden District is the Lafayette Cemetery with its ornate vaults and tombs, which featured in the film Interview with the Vampire (1994). It is best visited as part of a group on a walking tour (see Tours of the City); you can also enjoy wonderful views of the district from the streetcars running the length of St Charles Avenue.

St Charles Avenue to Magazine Street and between Louisiana and Jackson Avenues
Free admission.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
The country’s largest collection of jellyfish and sharks as well as seahorses, penguins, otters and a multitude of other sea creatures inhabit this watery world. Each of its four major exhibit areas (the Amazon Rainforest, the Mississippi River, the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean Reef) feature animals and fish native to that particular area. Many exhibits allow visitors to interact with creatures such as nurse sharks and turtles or to watch penguins feeding and learn more about underwater denizens. The facility borders Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Mississippi, so it is a fine place for a stroll.

1 Canal Street
Tel: (504) 581 4629 or 1 800 774 7394.
Website: www.auduboninstitute.org
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge.

Audubon Park and Zoo
Covering some 160 hectares (400 acres) and harboring more than 4,000 oak trees, Audubon Park is one of the largest city parks in the country. It was designed by John Charles Olmsted (nephew of Fredrick Law Olmsted, the man who designed New York’s Central Park) and named after the painter and ornithologist John James Audubon. Apart from the walking and biking trails, play areas, picnic spots, riding stables, tennis courts and golf course, the highlight of the park is the Audubon Zoo, one of the nation’s best. Among its zoological exhibits are sections devoted to the Louisiana Swamp (visitors should not miss alligator feeding time) and a tree house for viewing monkeys close up. A cruise boat run by New Orleans Steamboat Company (tel: (504) 586 8777 or 1 800 233 2628; website: www.steamboatnatchez.com) leaves Audubon Landing for an 11km (7-mile) river ride to the French Quarter and Canal Street. See also The Audubon Insectarium, the largest free standing museum in the United States dedicated to insects, at 423 Canal Street (tel: 1 800 774 7394; website: www.welovebugs.org), opened summer 2008. The Audubon Insectarium has over 900,000 known species of insects and their relatives. Combo tickets for insectarium, zoo and aquarium available.

6500 Magazine Street
Tel: (504) 581 4629 or 1 800 774 7394.
Website: www.auduboninstitute.org
Opening hours: Tues-Fri 1000-1600, Sat-Sun 1000-1700.
Admission charge (zoo), park free.

New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)
This excellent museum is situated near the lake off Esplanade Avenue in City Park. Major traveling exhibitions and rotating exhibits from the museum’s large art collection are displayed on the ground floor. Highlights of the permanent exhibits on the upper two floors include the pre-Columbian collection, Native American art, the Asian wing, American and European paintings, and one of the largest glass collections in the country. There is also an attractive sculpture garden.

1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park
Tel: (504) 658 4100.
Website: www.noma.org
Opening hours: Wed 1200-2000, Thurs-Sun 1000-1700.
Admission charge.

The National World War II Museum
Celebrating the accomplishments of the 1 million Americans who participated, the museum gives a fascinating political and economic overview of the build-up and mobilization of the Allied Forces’ 17 different amphibious invasions during WWII’s D-Days. Crammed with maps, filmed narrations, artifacts and photographs, it puts a face on the war. Exhibits include the Home Front, Planning for D-Day, the D-Day Beaches and D-Day invasions of the Pacific. Guides who speak French, Spanish and German are available. Note that the museum has scheduled a US$300 million expansion to quadruple its size by the end of 2009, but will remain open during this time. New features will include extra exhibits and a national center for research on the war.

945 Magazine Street
Tel: (504) 527 6012.
Website: www.ddaymuseum.org
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700, closed Mon.
Admission charge.

Further Distractions:

Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World
Blaine Kern has long been the king of the artists who create the stupendous Mardi Gras parade floats. Massive ’props’ for the floats (dinosaurs, fairy tale favorites like Cinderella and movie star characters such as Marilyn Monroe and King Kong) are scattered throughout the workshop. On a tour of the facility, often conducted by Kern himself, visitors see the floats and props being built. A Mardi Gras film, photographs, carnival souvenirs and costumes for children to try on complete the experience.

233 Newton Street, across the river at Algiers Point (A shuttle bus meets the ferry that leaves from the Canal Street landing.)
Tel: (504) 361 7821 or 1 800 362 8213.
Website: www.mardigrasworld.com
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1630; variable during Mardi Gras.
Admission charge.

Southern Food and Beverage Museum
Nicknamed SoFAB, the museum dedicated to honoring the sustenance of the South opened in Riverwalk Marketplace in June 2008. It hosts the Museum of the American Cocktail, as well. Fascinating gastronomy history for those who love to eat and drink.

1 Poydras Street at Convention Center Boulevard
Tel: (504) 569 0405.
Website: www.southernfood.org
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1900, Sun 1200-1800.
Admission charge.

St Louis Cemetery No 1
New Orleans is famous for its above-ground cemeteries or ’Cities of the Dead’. Because the high water table made underground burial difficult, people built ornate marble tombs and vaults, decorated with statuary, mosaics, wrought-iron and other ornamentation, above ground. St Louis Cemetery No 1, just above the French Quarter, dates back to 1789 and is the oldest of the city’s many such burial grounds. It is also one of the most atmospheric, with crumbling tombs and the graves of some of the city’s historic personages, including the voodoo queen Marie Laveau. The cemeteries are vast, unpatrolled and can attract crime, so tourists should visit them as part of a guided tour (see Tours of the City).

Basin Street between Conti and St Louis Streets
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1500.
Free admission.

City Park
Though the second largest park in the US sustained some hurricane damage, it is still an emerald refuge. Donated to the city in 1850 by John McDonough, this former sugar plantation has been a favorite destination for folks who enjoy jogging, fishing or just like to wander among giant oak trees and duck-filled ponds. The park is also home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans Botanical Garden, a mini-train, Storyland (a children’s park with fairytale characters), tennis courts and a golf course.

Bordered by Robert E Lee Boulevard, Marconi Drive, Bayou St John and City Park Avenue
Tel: (504) 482 4888.
Website: www.neworleanscitypark.com
Free admission, charge for tennis courts, golf course and Storyland.

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