Lower Garden District

Welcome, curious travelers. I am delighted to be your guide as we explore one of the most visually stunning, yet historically complex, neighborhoods in the American South: the Garden District of New Orleans. …

As we make our way down Washington Avenue and turn onto the magnificent Prytania Street, we are immediately confronted with the ideological ambitions of the neighborhood's founders. The street itself takes its name from the…

Continuing our walk beneath the drooping branches of the live oaks, we arrive at a corner that perfectly encapsulates New Orleans' deep, enduring relationship with the supernatural. Before us stands an imposing Greek style…

We now approach the stark, whitewashed walls of Lafayette Cemetery Number One, the oldest continuously existing cemetery in the American sector of New Orleans. Peering through the heavy iron gates, you are greeted by an…

Directly across the street from the somber silence of the cemetery stands a vibrant explosion of life, recognizable instantly by its iconic, bright blue awnings. This is Commander's Palace, an absolute institution of New Orleans…

As we pivot our attention away from the culinary delights, we arrive before one of the most visually striking and historically significant residences in the district: Colonel Short's Villa. Notice the exquisite, intricately…

Our final architectural stop brings us to Coliseum Street. This thoroughfare was ambitiously named after a grand, classical amphitheater that the early American settlers planned to build nearby. …

As our scholarly stroll through the Garden District draws to a close, take a moment to pause beneath the shade of these magnificent, moss draped live oaks. We have covered significant historical ground today, both literally and…