Along the way, the people in the floats throw anything from plastic beads to plush toys out into the crowds of parade-goers and as you get closer to Bourbon Street, the real party begins.
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Today, it has become an event that conjures images of people celebrating in the streets as they are dazzled by a series of floats and costumes.Īlthough the main festivities of Mardi Gras are centered in the French Quarter, the parades actually start in Uptown and Mid-City districts. By the late 1830s, masked people were parading through the streets of New Orleans in carriages and on horseback and the event continued to evolve from there. Mardi Gras can be traced back to Medieval Europe and the New Orleans’ Mardi Gras was first mentioned in 1781.
You can’t mention Bourbon Street without also talking about Mardi Gras, the French Quarter’s biggest event. Today, you will find a plethora of restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops on Upper Bourbon Street near Canal Street, and Lower Bourbon Street is the hub of New Orleans’ gay community. Gentrification has cleaned the area back up again. Although the street started off as a residential area, things soon changed and the street began to develop a less savory reputation. When Bourbon Street was created in 1721, it was named after one of France’s ruling families at the time. This is the epicenter of activity and one of the main tourist attractions of New Orleans. Bourbon StreetĪny visit to the French Quarter should start at Bourbon Street. The streets of the French Quarter remind visitors of a bygone era of America’s history and we highly recommend joining a walking tour to learn more about the French Quarter’s fascinating history. Over the past 50 years, there has been a concentrated effort to clean up Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, and today, you will once again find people from around the world walking shoulder to shoulder as they explore this historic district.
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Areas adjacent to the French Quarter became known for gambling and prostitution and by the end of World War II, Bourbon Street was packed full of burlesque shows, and strip clubs. The city soon started attracting a different type of crowd and by the 1880s, New Orleans began to develop a reputation as being “The Big Easy”, a place where anything goes and people can let their vices take over. The streets of New Orleans were full of a mix of languages and many new arrivals were stunned by the loose morals of the “Creoles” of New Orleans. This was a time when Europe and America were still firmly intertwined as immigrants fled their homes in droves seeking a new life and the U.S welcomed them with open arms. The rapid switch from French to Spanish to American control created a colorful mix of architecture, cuisine, language, and culture and you can still see evidence of this time period today.
All of the street names were anglicized in 1803 when the city changed hands again thanks to the Louisiana Purchase and by the 1840s, New Orleans was the 3rd largest metropolis in the United States and it had the 2nd biggest port in America. The Spanish began rebuilding the city and, ironically, you can now actually see more examples of Spanish architecture than French in the French Quarter. Unfortunately, the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 swept through not long after and destroyed 80% of the city. The French, who had claimed Lousiana in the 1690s, then succeeded the territory to the Spanish at the end of the Seven Years War in 1763. The French Quarter was created at the start of the 18th century by French engineer Adrien de Pauger. Not only is the neighborhood the location of New Orlean’s world-famous Mardi Gras celebrations but it is also overflowing with charming hotels, art galleries, trendy bars and restaurants, and what feels like a museum or historic building on every street.
The French Quarter is by far the most visited area of New Orleans and with good reason. From the colonial streets of the French Quarter to the upmarket Garden District and everywhere in between, a sightseeing adventure awaits! The French Quarter While many tourists choose to spend the majority of their time in the French Quarter, the nearby areas offer a multitude of activities and attractions and as you delve deeper into the side streets of each neighborhood, you will feel New Orleans’ past come alive around you. One of the best ways to understand the history of New Orleans is by exploring the city’s diverse neighborhoods. CHECK OUT TOURS AND EVENTS IN NEW ORLEANS Explore the Neighborhoods & Attractions
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