History of New Orleans
Nearly 300 years old and still going strong.
The city of New Orleans was established as the capitol of Louisiana in 1718 by French explorer, Jean Baptiste La Moyne de Bienville. From its inception, New Orleans was a very powerful icon. The city rose out of the swamps as an island of civilization amidst the vast reaches of marsh and wilderness.
It became a haven for travelers on the Mississippi. Situated at the mouth of the Mississippi River, New Orleans hovers like an overlord over almost all river trade throughout North America and is perfectly positioned as a major player in international shipping.
The forty-five year-long French rule over New Orleans was slow and precarious.After the French were defeated in the Seven-Years War, New Orleans was passed on to Spain who held it for forty-one years. In 1802, Napoleon tried
to re-establish French footing in Louisiana, but due to financial
trouble didn’t make it very far.
In 1803 he sold New Orleans to Thomas
Jefferson as part of the Louisiana Purchase, making the city officially
an American territory.
The early
19th-century saw an influx of Creole French, Cuban, and Haitian
immigrants into New Orleans. This further mired distinctions between
cultures making it a genuine cultural melting pot. Since then, New
Orleans has grown into a plucky haven for food enthusiasts, revelers,
musicians, and tourists.
Always teetering at the edge of the possibility of sliding permanently into the waters of the Mississippi, the city has adopted a “Seize the day” tenacity and has truly learned how to celebrate.
Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, and Jazz Fest are just a couple of ways the citizens have adopted to unwind and enjoy life. If you plan to visit New Orleans you’d better be prepared to "Laissez les bon temps rouler!"