Chelmsford Public Library

Sunday journeys, a travel series : A visit to New Orleans, presented by Leon Poirier

eng

videorecording

Sunday journeys

Recorded at the Chelmsford Public Library on Mar. 6, 2016

presented by Leon Poirier

Library hour

a travel series : A visit to New Orleans

New Orleans, founded in 1718, is famous for many things including the birthplace of jazz (Louis Armstrong started here), Bourbon Street and the Mardis Gras parade, and the Cafe du Monde started in 1791. We’ll take a walk around the old French Quarter and see the St Louis Cathedral, one of the oldest in the country, Jackson Square honoring Andrew Jackson’s victory at the Battle of New Orleans, and many examples of the architecture of the period. Our visit was soon after Katrina, and although there was little damage to the French Quarter tourists were slow to return. We stop by the Café du Monde for beignets and chicory flavored coffee. Across the river, we visit the Mardis Gras World where the parade floats are stored and repaired and new ones designed and constructed. We also try Po-Boys and muffuletta sandwiches. The National WWII Museum is in New Orleans because this is where the amphibious landing craft, LCVP, was conceived and manufactured. It is often credited as a major contributor in winning WWII. We spend a day visiting the Oak Alley Plantation, a sugar cane plantation dating to 1830, that was built by slaves and worked by slaves. Our visit ends with a tour of the Museum of Art

not applicable

Visit to New Orleans