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Welcome to New Orleans, Louisiana.
New Orleans is a major United States port city and historically the largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is in southeastern Louisiana along the Mississippi River, just south of Lake Pontchartrain, and is coextensive with Orleans Parish. New Orleans is named after Philippe II, Duke of Orleans, Regent of France, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States.
New Orleans is known for its multicultural heritage as well as its music and cuisine. It is considered the birthplace of jazz. Its status as a world-famous tourist destination is due in part to its architecture and its annual Mardi Gras and other celebrations. It is often called the "most unique city" in America.
Skyline seen from over the Industrial Canal
The city's several nicknames are illustrative. Crescent City alludes to the course of the Mississippi River around and through the city; The Big Easy was possibly a reference by musicians in the early 1900's to the relative ease of finding work there, but most New Orleanians attribute the term to the city being more carefree and slowed down than cities like New York (the Big Apple); and 'The City that Care Forgot" refers to the outwardly easy-going, carefree nature of many of the residents.
New Orleans was founded in 1718 by the French Mississippi Company as la Nouvelle-Orleans, under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. The site was selected because of its relatively high elevation along the flood-prone banks of the Lower Mississippi River and its location adjacent to a Native American trading route and portage between the river and Lake Pontchartrain.
As a principal port, New Orleans had a leading role in the slave trade, while at the same time having the most prosperous community of free persons of color in the South. Early in the American Civil War New Orleans was captured by the Union. This action spared the city the destruction suffered by many other cities of the American South.
The Central Business District of New Orleans is located immediately north and west of the Mississippi River, and was historically called the "American Quarter." Most streets in this area fan out from a central point in the city. Major streets of the area include Canal Street and Poydras Street. In the local parlance "downtown" means downriver from Canal Street, while "uptown" means upriver from Canal Street. Downtown neighborhoods include the French Quarter, Treme, Faubourg Marigny, Bywater, the 7th Ward, and the Lower 9th Ward. Uptown neighborhoods include the Garden District, the Irish Channel, the University District, Carrollton, Gert Town, Fontainebleau, and Broadmoor.
New Orleans is one of the most visited cities in the United States, and tourism is a major staple in the area's economy. Approximately 14 million people visit New Orleans each year. The city's colorful Carnival celebrations (leading up to mardi gras or "Fat Tuesday", the feast day before "Ash Wednesday") during the pre-Lenten season, centered (for tourists at least) on the French Quarter, draw particularly large crowds. Other major tourist events and attractions in the city include the Sugar Bowl, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (popularly known by locals as "Jazz Fest"), Voodoo Music Experience, Southern Decadence (one of the largest annual Gay/Lesbian celebrations in the world), and the Essence Festival, not to mention sporting events including Superbowls and NCAA final fours.
The largest of the city's many musical festivals is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Commonly referred to simply as "Jazz Fest," it is one of the largest music festivals in the nation; and features crowds coming from all over the world to experience music, food, arts and crafts. Despite the name, it features not only jazz but a large variety of music, including both native Louisiana music and nationally-known popular music artists.
Greater New Orleans has many major attractions, from the world-renowned Bourbon Street and the French Quarter's notorious nightlife, St. Charles Avenue (home of Tulane and Loyola Universities), and many stately 19th century mansions. Favorite tourist scenes in New Orleans include the French Quarter (known locally as "the Quarter"), which dates from the French and Spanish eras and is bounded by the Mississippi River and Rampart Street, Canal Street and Esplanade Ave. The French Quarter contains many popular hotels, bars, and nightclubs, most notably around Bourbon Street. Other notable tourist attractions in the quarter include Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Market (including Cafe du Monde, famous for cafe au lait and beignets), and jazz at Preservation Hall.
New Orleans is world-famous for its food. Like its Jazz, New Orleans is blessed with the only truly indigenous local cuisine in the nation. From the infitration of hearty cajun country fare over the centuries to the local creole, haute creole and New Orleans French cuisines, New Orleans food is perhaps its most cherished possession. Local ingredients, African, French, Spanish and Cajun traditions combine to produce a truly unique and easily recognizable New Orleans flavor.
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Local daily news in New Orleans:
Post-Katrina New Orleans
Local officials and civic leaders say that an economic and social renaissance is underway, thanks to the convergence of a number of factors -- education reform, an influx of young entrepreneurial talent, a motivated labor force, a business-friendly governor and an energetic emphasis on regional cooperation in the wake of Katrina.
Molestation allegations against local Catholic priest withdrawn
Monsignor Ray Hebert supervised Madonna Manor for a time as head of Catholic Charities.
Zydeco ambassadors return home to jam
Between them, Buckwheat Zydeco and Terrance Simien have been part of two Grammy wins, six Grammy nominations, an Emmy, three presidential inaugurations, 10 movie soundtracks and dozens of national TV shows and commercials.
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Places of interest:
Gretna, LA (3.9 miles), Arabi, LA (4.3 miles), Terrytown, LA (5.3 miles), Harvey, LA (5.7 miles), Timberlane, LA (6.7 miles), Jefferson, LA (6.8 miles), Marrero, LA (6.9 miles), Chalmette, LA (7.0 miles).
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Hotels in New Orleans
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Wyndham Canal Place
100 RUE IBERVILLE - New Orleans, LA, US 70130
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Sheraton New Orleans
500 CANAL STREET - New Orleans, LA, US 70130
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Hyatt Regency New Orleans
500 POYDRAS PLAZA - New Orleans, LA, US 70113
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Wyndham Riverfront
701 CONVENTION CENTER BLVD - New Orleans, LA, US 70130
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New Orleans Marriott
555 CANAL STREET - New Orleans, LA, US 70130
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Fairchild House
1518 Prytania Street New Orleans La 70130
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W New Orleans
333 POYDRAS STREET - New Orleans, LA, US 70130
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Holiday Inn NEW ORLEANS-DOWNTOWN SUPERDOME
330 LOYOLA AVE - New Orleans, LA, US 70112
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Holiday Inn NEW ORLEANS-WEST BANK
100 WEST BANK EXPWY BUS 90 - New Orleans, LA, US 70053
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Maison St.Charles Quality Inn
1319 ST CHARLES AVENUE - New Orleans, LA, US 70130
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Days Inn New Orleans Read Blvd
5801 READ BOULEVARD - New Orleans, LA, US 70127
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Days Inn Canal
1630 CANAL ST. - New Orleans, LA, US 70112
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Quality Hotel Midtown
3900 TULANE AVENUE - New Orleans, LA, US 70119
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Embassy Suites
315 Julia St.
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Bw French Quarter Landmark Htl
920 RAMPART STREET - New Orleans, LA, US 70116
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Maison Dupuy
1001 RUE TOULOUSE - New Orleans, LA, US 70112
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Radisson Hotel
1500 CANAL STREET - New Orleans, LA, US 70112
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Doubletree Hotel Downtown
300 CANAL STREET - New Orleans, LA, US 70130
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Hampton Inn
3626 ST. CHARLES AVE - New Orleans, LA, US 70115
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Hilton Riverside
2 POYDRAS STREET - New Orleans, LA, US 70140
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