Our field trip into the Garden District, this morning, was started by boarding the St. Charles Street Car and traveling for about 4 miles upriver. (By the way, whenever you talk to a local about directions it's never East, West, North and South. It is Upriver, Downriver, Lakeside and Riverside.) Here is an explanation right from Frommers book explaining way the Garden District was created. We found it very interesting because after reading this explanation and seeing the homes it made it much interesting.
The French Quarter was initially established by Creoles during the French and Spanish colonial periods, and the Garden District was created by Americans after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. Antebellum New Orleans's lucrative combination of Mississippi River commerce, regional abundance of cash crops, slave trade, and national banks fueled the local economy, resulting in a remarkable building boom that extended for several square miles through Uptown.
Although very few people from the United States lived in New Orleans during its colonial era, after the Louisiana Purchase, thousands of Americans flooded the city and clashed with the Creoles. Friction arose between the two groups due to mutual snobbery, a language barrier, religious division, and, most significantly, competition over burgeoning commerce. Americans were arriving at the brink of a boom time to make fortunes. With inferior business experience, education, and organizational skills, the Creoles worried that les Americains would work them out of business. Americans were, therefore, kept out of the already overcrowded French Quarter. Feeling snubbed, the Americans moved upriver to create a residential district of astounding opulence. The Garden District is, therefore, a study of a cultural clash reflected through architecture, with Americans creating an identity by boldly introducing styles and forms familiar to them and previously unknown in colonial Louisiana.
Although very few people from the United States lived in New Orleans during its colonial era, after the Louisiana Purchase, thousands of Americans flooded the city and clashed with the Creoles. Friction arose between the two groups due to mutual snobbery, a language barrier, religious division, and, most significantly, competition over burgeoning commerce. Americans were arriving at the brink of a boom time to make fortunes. With inferior business experience, education, and organizational skills, the Creoles worried that les Americains would work them out of business. Americans were, therefore, kept out of the already overcrowded French Quarter. Feeling snubbed, the Americans moved upriver to create a residential district of astounding opulence. The Garden District is, therefore, a study of a cultural clash reflected through architecture, with Americans creating an identity by boldly introducing styles and forms familiar to them and previously unknown in colonial Louisiana.
Now armed with this knowledge lets jump in and see some of the pictures.
It was interesting to see the size of these homes and how they must have thumbed their noses at the people living in the French Quarter. We didn't realize that so many famous people live in this District. Nicolas Cage, John Goodman, Anne Rice just to name a few.
While waiting for the street car we stumbled into a little dive market wanting to just get some water. We ended up having lunch and what a great lunch it was. Gumbo soup and a Pressed Chicken sandwich. Oh, the flavor was incredible! Who would have known that this dive had such good food.
We walked along the river until we hit Cafe Du Mode and had to eat their prized food. Quite a sugar rush!
So far our stay in the French Quarters has been better than we expected. We walk everywhere and never have to drive our car. Bourbon Street is only 4 blocks away and everyone has been very friendly. Now, don't get me wrong, if you're not "street smart" there are plenty of areas to get into trouble.
If you ever get the opportunity to visit New Orleans, don't pass it up. Well worth it!
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