Edward

Thumbnail image for NOLA History: The Legendary Storyville District

NOLA History: The Legendary Storyville District

by Edward May 3, 2012 Arts & Culture

There are several distinct neighborhoods in Faubourg Treme, the most famous of which has not existed for almost a century. The “Storyville” district still sparks creativity in writers and poets, because of the way “The District” blended people together, black and white, rich and poor.

Storyville, which is bounded by Rue Iberville, Iberville, Basin, St. Louis, and N. Robertson streets, …

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Thumbnail image for Barques and Barquentines: The Tall Ships of NOLA Navy Week

Barques and Barquentines: The Tall Ships of NOLA Navy Week

by Edward April 11, 2012 Events

Of the three Tall Ships making port calls in New Orleans for NOLA Navy Week, two are barques and the third is a barquentine. These ship types are hybrids between the “square-rigged” configuration we’ve come to associate with warships from the Age of Sail, and the “fore-and-aft” configuration found on smaller vessels. Whatever the type of Tall Ship coming to …

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Thumbnail image for NOLA History: The New Orleans Squadron in the Battle of Lake Borgne

NOLA History: The New Orleans Squadron in the Battle of Lake Borgne

by Edward April 4, 2012 History

Most accounts of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 focus around the meeting of the American and British forces at what is now the Chalmette Battlefield. There were many other actions during the British attempt at invading New Orleans, and the United States Navy also had a large role in the campaign, most actively in the Battle of Lake …

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Thumbnail image for The USS Wasp: From the War of 1812 to NOLA Navy Week

The USS Wasp: From the War of 1812 to NOLA Navy Week

by Edward March 28, 2012 Events

When the celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 begins with NOLA Navy Week next month on April 17, the massive military ship, the USS Wasp (LHD-1), will visit New Orleans. The USS Wasp’s origins go back to the 1700s and the ship continues to be used by the Navy today. LHD-1 is the tenth ship to bear …

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Thumbnail image for NOLA History: The Forts that Protected New Orleans in the War of 1812

NOLA History: The Forts that Protected New Orleans in the War of 1812

by Edward March 21, 2012 History

New Orleans was often referred to by the early French settlers as the “Isle d’Orleans.” While strictly speaking, the city was not settled on a true island, it’s very close, with Lake Pontchartrain to the north, the Mississippi River to the south, and swampy wetlands to the east and west. Access to the city in the 18th and 19th centuries …

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Thumbnail image for NOLA History: Dominique Youx, Privateer and Hero

NOLA History: Dominique Youx, Privateer and Hero

by Edward March 7, 2012 History

As part of NOLA Navy Week (April 17-23, 2012), New Orleans celebrates the bicentennial of the War of 1812, as well as an incredibly rich maritime history. The most well-known stories from that timeline are those of the pirates and privateers of the early 19th century. While the brothers Lafitte are the most well-known, they were not alone. One of …

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Mardi Gras History: Rex, the Duke, and The Woman He Loved

by Edward February 16, 2012 History

The Grand Duke Alexi Romanov was not the only “real” royal figure who is part of the story of Rex, King of Carnival. Almost eighty years after the School of Design hosted the Grand Duke, Rex greeted another King. Well, a former King of England, that is. In 1950, His Royal Highness, Edward, Duke of Windsor, and his wife, Wallis, …

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Thumbnail image for Mardi Gras History: The Old Line Krewes

Mardi Gras History: The Old Line Krewes

by Edward February 1, 2012 Arts & Culture

The “super-krewes” of Carnival begin their parades on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, when the Krewe of Endymion takes to the streets of New Orleans. Endymion is followed by Bacchus on Sunday, Orpheus on Monday, with Zulu and Rex on Fat Tuesday. That’s not all the parades of Carnival, though! In the weekend prior to Endymion, as well as the …

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Thumbnail image for Mardi Gras History: The Origin of the Doubloon

Mardi Gras History: The Origin of the Doubloon

by Edward January 17, 2012 Arts & Culture

The main reason why New Orleans Carnival parades are more exciting and fun than parades in other parts of the country is that the crowds are active participants. Mardi Gras parade riders don’t just stand and wave (or try to lip-sync songs), they throw stuff to you! Beads, cups, stuffed animals, plastic toys: you can catch them all at a …

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Thumbnail image for NOLA History: How The Battle of New Orleans Was Won

NOLA History: How The Battle of New Orleans Was Won

by Edward January 4, 2012 History

On the evening of January 7, 1815, the Ursuline sisters gathered in the church attached to their convent on Rue Chartres in the French Quarter, along with a number of local residents. They began to pray, in particular to Our Lady of Prompt Succor, that their city, New Orleans, be spared from the ravages of the British Army which was …

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Thumbnail image for NOLA History: Christmas, Battle of New Orleans Style

NOLA History: Christmas, Battle of New Orleans Style

by Edward December 21, 2011 History

On December 16, 1814, two British officers disguised as local fishermen made their way from the lake up Bayou Bienvenue, heading towards New Orleans. They made it up to the Villere and Delaronde Plantations, plotting out a path for the British troops to move from their ships anchored in Lake Borgne inland to capture the city of New Orleans.

But …

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Thumbnail image for NOLA History: German Heritage and Legacy in New Orleans

NOLA History: German Heritage and Legacy in New Orleans

by Edward December 14, 2011 History

Tales of the French, Spanish and Italians coming to South Louisiana are commonplace, but Germans played an important part in the formation of New Orleans as well, including developing some of its most treasured cornerstones. We tend to think of the Germans and their beer and bratwursts only around Oktoberfest time, but they’ve been here since the days of Bienville.…

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NOLA History: Horse Racing in the Crescent City

by Edward November 24, 2011 History

Thanksgiving Day in New Orleans means turkey, oyster dressing, and all the other trimmings as we give thanks for our many different blessings. For New Orleanians who are fans of horse racing – or just fans of bloody marys during the day, big hats, and a meal prepared by someone else – Thanksgiving holds an entirely different meaning: opening day …

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Thumbnail image for NOLA History: The Legend of Pirate’s Alley

NOLA History: The Legend of Pirate’s Alley

by Edward November 9, 2011 Arts & Culture

There are two alleyways that run on either side of St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans’ Jackson Square, connecting Rue Royale and Rue Chartres. The alley on the “Uptown” side of the cathedral (between the church and the Cabildo) was long called “The Pirate’s Alley” before that name was formalized in 1964. But were there really “pirates” in “Pirate’s Alley?”…

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Thumbnail image for NOLA History: Jean Lafitte the Pirate

NOLA History: Jean Lafitte the Pirate

by Edward October 26, 2011 Arts & Culture

He’s one of the most romantic figures in the history of New Orleans. Books and movies have been written about him. A National Park and the oldest rumored bar in the United States is named after the man, the pirate. There was even a ride at the old JazzLand amusement park themed for him. But who was the “real” Jean …

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Thumbnail image for NOLA History: The Neighborhoods of Uptown New Orleans

NOLA History: The Neighborhoods of Uptown New Orleans

by Edward October 12, 2011 History

New Orleans is defined by its unique parts of town. New Orleanians regularly refer to the section of the city upriver from Canal Street as “Uptown,” but that area of town is really a combination of a number of distinct neighborhoods. We hear about the Garden District and Riverbend neighborhoods all the time, but the rest of “Uptown” has a …

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