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- Site & Situation - The French Quarter -Mardi Gras 2003
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NOTE: Photos with lots of sunshine were taken in June 1989; photos with cloudy skies were taken in February 2003.
I received the following email in November 2005 from someone in Head of Island, Louisiana, three months after the Hurricane Katrina flooding of New Orleans.
Dear Dr. Lew, I was looking at your beautiful photos of my beloved city, and I have to admit I am crying like a baby. A drive thru New Orleans now would be the equivalent of a drive thru Iraq or maybe a city dump. The devastation is beyond comprehension. You did such a great job of capturing the spirit of the city, oh how I wish your camera could restore that same spirit. They are talking about rebuilding but I just do not see how we can possibly expose ourselves to another catastrophe like that ever again. Perhaps you could come down and see for yourself and maybe even contact some of our city leaders with some ideas, if you have any.
There are a lot of people who loved New Orleans, and there are a lot of voices out there about what and how the city should be rebuilt. This is a story that is going to evolve (and be recorded) over the coming years. Let's all hope the results are as good as the good old New Orleans that many of us knew. -- Alan A. Lew
Crossing Lake Pontchartrain to New Orleans
Infrared image of the mouth of the Mississippi River. New Orleans can be
seen on the left side (big white splotch); Lake Pontchartrain is just above
New Orleans. Man-made levees have controlled and extended the mouth of the Mississippi,
which traditionally would flood and change course and location on a regular
basis. Most of this area today is actually being eroded.
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1720 map of New Orleans, "The Capital of Louisiana" -- showing the area that is today known as the French Quarter. Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral dominate the center of town along the river front. This was the worst SITE one could imagine -- below the river level, only a couple of feet above sea level, and in a bug-infested swamp.
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Aerial photo of New Orleans in 1988. The French quarter is at the bend
on the right side of this photo. Lake Pontchartrain is to the north of this
photo.
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New Orleans in 1851 -- It was the largest city in the South up to 1950 because
of its Situation at the mouth of the Mississippi River drainage
basin. The spire to the right is St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter.
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Battle of New Orleans site, in War of 1812 with the British - last battle of the war - took place after a peace agreement was signed -- US routed the British troops here - Notice the levee behind the building.
Mississippi River from the top floor of the building above.
Topographic map of the area above, showing development along the river levee
and marsh and swampland below the levee (on the left side of this map).
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Cemetery in New Iberia, Louisiana, west of New Orleans. Although there may
be some practical value in the often cited belief that bodies are kept above
the ground due to the high water table, in fact this type of burial tradition
was brought by early settlers from France.
New Orleans is still the busiest port in North America (when combined with other lower Mississippi River ports under the "Port of South Louisiana" - click here for source).
The Garden District of New Orleans is on higher ground and was where the Americans settled after France sold the Louisiana Territory to the US in 1803.
Termites are a major problem in New Orleans. The white caps in the sidewalk below are for testing and treating termite infestations (and are being inspected in this photo.)
This oblique aerial view of New Orleans shows the French Quarter at the bottom, below the tall buildings of downtown in the middle. The Garden District is further upstream from downtown.
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Historic Marker in the French Quarter. Louisiana is officially a bilingual state in both French and English (the only other officially bilingual state is New Mexico)
On the levee with the Mississippi River on the left and the French Quarter to the right. A paddle boat can be seen on the Mississippi. The trees on the right are Jackson Square. The river was higher than usual when this photo was taken. Even when it is low, it is still higher than the French Quarter.
Cruise ship and two ferries on the Mississippi River. This photo was taken close to the one above. New Orleans is a home port for cruises to the Caribbean.
Unusual photo of steam/fog rising from the Mississippi River.
Misty Mississippi River Video - mpeg (optional)
Architecture in the French Quarter
Pirate Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. He is considered a US patriot for
his part in helping the US win the War of 1812 against the British.
Local Voodoo shop (below)
This one (below) is more for tourists.
A display of voodoo icons and paraphernalia.
Traditional French Quarter residence (below), with an open courtyard in the back and the slave quarters at the very back.
This courtyard is today an artist gallery
Rare example of an original French Quarter home. Animals were kept on
the bottom floor and people above. Much of the architecture of the contemporary
French Quarter dates to the Spanish period in the late 18th century (late 1700s).
Jackson Square -- with St. Louis Cathedral.
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On Bourbon Street - Bourbon Street is the 'Main Street" of the French Quarter, with a wide mix of entertainment and tourist shopping opportunities.
Bourbon Street Video - mpeg (optional)
A portable wishing well.
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Some of the seedier sides of Bourbon Street.
A specialty clothing store -- "Must be 18 or Older to Enter! No Drinks or Cigarette Allowed in Store. Please Check ALL BAGS at counter."
Towards the quieter end of Bourbon Street
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The French Market near the levee
Beads are among the many tourist-oriented items for sale in the French Market.
Statue of Joan of Arc -- a gift from France -- stands near the French Market.
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Mardi Gras - 2003
Beads are what it is all about!
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the day before the Roman Catholic holy day of Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the season of Lent when fasting and moderation is required. The festival activities are intended to get it all out of one's system in preparation for this period, which ends with Easter. Mardi Gras is known as 'Carnival' in most other major Catholic areas (Europe and South America).
Mardi Gras was first celebrated in New Orleans in 1857 -- well after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War.
Parade Video mpeg (optional)
These photos were taken on the last day of Mardi Gras, after several days of parades. The floats were mostly of the large semi-truck type. More fanciful floats paraded on earlier days. Here is an example from the New Orleans Picayune newspaper:
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After the parade -- the final hours before Lent ...
Taking beads down from overhead phone lines.
Everyone heads for Bourbon Street!
Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras night - mpeg (optional)
Music in the French Quarter
Jazz music performed by NPS rangers.
Music at Jackson Square in the French Quarter. St. Louis Cathedral is undergoing some repair work behind the band.
Street Music Video - mpeg (optional)
...and some music outside of the French quarter.
A Louisiana State Historic Marker at the entrance the Holiday Inn reads:
The Clarinet -- Jazz scholars refer to this neighborhood as one of the original birthplaces of jazz. The early sounds of jazz emanated from the music halls in this area frequented by Buddy Bolden and other jazz greats. In honor of this historic location, Louisiana artist Robert Dafford was commissioned to paint a series of jazz murals. The clarinet has been an integral part of New Orleans style jazz bands since the music's inception in the later 1890s. This modified "Albert System" model clarinet is similar to those favored by jazz musicians who played here. (dedicated May 1, 1996)
In the image below, Lake Pontchartrain is to the top (north) and the Mississippi River and French Quarter are at the bottom (south). [Click Here for a natural color image of the same area in the image below.]
