The Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was fought between the British and American armies on January 8th, 1815. Under General Andrew Jackson, the American forces defeated the British in their attempt to take New Orleans.
Although the battle was fought downriver from the French Quarter in present day Chalmette, this walking tour highlights French Quarter sites and buildings connected to the Battle of New Orleans through fact as well as legend.
This tour was created in January 2015 during the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.
Access: Walking
Distance: ~1.5 miles, 45-60 minutes
Stories 9
Battle of New Orleans: Introduction
Almost 200 years ago, on January 8, 1815, Major General Andrew Jackson and his outnumbered American defenders overwhelmed veteran British troops at the Battle of New Orleans. The battle took place…
Jackson Square during the Battle of New Orleans
Formerly the Place d'Armes around which New Orleans was built, Jackson Square, a National Historical Landmark, is the most prominent location in the “Vieux Carre” or Old Quarter. On December 18,…
Battle of New Orleans: St. Louis Cathedral
Facing Jackson Square and the Mississippi River, the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, is the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States. With its three steeples,…
Battle of New Orleans: Pirate's Alley, The Arsenal, Creole House & Jackson House
Walking out of Jackson Square toward St. Louis Cathedral, Pirate’s Alley appears on the left, between the Cathedral and the Cabildo. Formerly known as “Orleans Alley,” the passage is one block long,…
Maspero's Coffee House and the Battle of New Orleans
Maspero’s Exchange, also known as Maspero’s Coffee House and now called the “Original Pierre Maspero’s,” is located at 440 Chartres Street, on the corner of St. Louis and Chartres Streets, nearest the…
Old Absinthe House and the Battle of New Orleans
The Old Absinthe House, a stucco building at the corner of Bourbon and Bienville Streets, is one of the oldest structures in New Orleans, dating to approximately 1806. In the nineteenth century,…
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and the Battle of New Orleans
For many years, a bar called “Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop” has occupied this building at the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Philip Street. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1970, Lafitte’s…
Battle of New Orleans: Old Ursuline Convent
Almost 300 years ago, in 1727, the Ursuline nuns arrived in New Orleans at the invitation of Governor Bienville. While awaiting the completion of their convent in 1734, the Ursuline nuns established…
From Fort St. Charles to the U.S. Mint
The United States Mint was once the site of Fort St. Charles, one of the defenses built in 1792 during the Spanish period. Fort St. Charles was the largest of five fortifications surrounding the city.…Tour curated by: Mary Ann Wegmann, Louisiana State Museum, and the University of New Orleans History Department; Associate Editor & Media Editor: Jessica Anne Dauterive; military history research assistance: Rhett Breerwood