Vieux Carré:
A Creole Neighborhood in New Orleans

(National Historic Landmarks photograph) H ugging the bank of the huge, swiftly moving Mississippi River and lying barely above sea level is the Vieux Carré [view-ka-ray], or French Quarter, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Buildings crowd each other and the narrow streets. Cast-iron and wrought-iron balconies overhang the sidewalks, providing shelter from hot summer sun or sudden downpours. Cool, inviting courtyards can be glimpsed down narrow alleys or carriageways, and the smells of shrimp remoulades and seafood gumbos waft from hidden kitchens. Cathedral bells, jazz trumpets, and ship horns serenade residents and visitors. The Quarter is the heart and soul of modern New Orleans and serves as a continuous reminder of the city’s Creole, colonial past.

TABLE OF CONTENTS About This Lesson Getting Started: Inquiry Question Setting the Stage: Historical Context Locating the Site: Maps 1a. The French Claim to North America, 1754 1b. Spanish Claims, 1763 1c. The Louisiana Purchase, 1803 2. The Mississippi Delta, 1720 3. Plan of New Orleans, 1720 Determining the Facts: Readings 1. The History of Settlement in Louisiana 2. Creoles and Creoles of Color Visual Evidence: Images 1. Vieux Carré street scene 2. Vieux Carré street scene 3. Aerial view of a typical block 4. Dependency structure and outbuildings 5. Facade of a Creole townhouse 6. Facade of a Porte-Corchere Creole townhouse 7. Facade of an American townhouse 8. Floor plan of a Creole townhouse 9. Floor plan of a Porte-Corchere Creole townhouse Putting It All Together: Activities 1. Architectural Change 2. Researching Creole Culture 3. The Local Community 4. Cultural Interaction Supplementary Resources

RELATED INFORMATION How to Use a TwHP Lesson Lessons on Related Topics TwHP Home National Register Home About the National Register How the National Register Helps Teachers Contact TwHP Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve This lesson is based on Vieux Carré Historic District, one of the thousands of properties and districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This property has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

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