French Quarter
Walking Tour Highlights
Jackson Square is a delightful place in the evening where you can have your palm or tarot cards read, henna tattoos applied, or a chair massage. During the day you can watch break-dancers and incredible live statues dressed entirely in gold or silver with their skin painted to match or listen to live street bands. The Mahogany Brass Band had many of us dancing while enjoying the music. The buildings surrounding the park include the Louisiana Museum, Voodoo Museum and St. Louis Cathedral. Horse drawn carriages provide sightseeing around the area.
Across the street from Jackson Square is a streetcar that runs up and down the waterfront going by the Rivermarket, French Market and Moonwalk. All of which have shops and restaurants. There is also the Aquarium with touch pools and tanks of various marine life. This is also where the Canal Street Ferry takes you across to Algiers Point, location of Mardi Gras World.
The 1811 Skyscraper House at the corner of Royal & Chartres was the first skyscraper with three stories. People believed the ground could not hold up more than that, so it was 65 years later that a fourth story was added.
Throughout the French Quarter there is Spanish and French influence in the architecture. A fire destroyed 4/5 of the area many years ago and the rebuilding resulted in mostly Spanish Architecture in the French Quarter. The intricate cast iron on the balconies is Spanish style. The guide also pointed out that there are balconies and galleries with the difference being that the latter have supporting columns. Many of the street names are in both English and French and the postman delivering in the French Quarter needs to know both, as both street names are used and acceptable. One or two street signs around Bourbon Street actually have three names, Spanish, English and French. Creole is combination of all three languages and spoken many locals.
On Rampart Street at the edge of the French Quarter is Louis Armstrong Park including the Mahalia Jackson Theatre of Performing Arts and Municipal Auditorium. The grounds are green with waterfalls and oriental style bridges.