While New Orleans, Louisiana (USA) is known for its world-famous French Quarter neighborhood, about three miles away visitors to the Gulf Coast city can find another slice of exploration emphasized by distinct architecture, history, and natural tranquility.
The Garden District, located to the Southwest of the New Orleans French Quarter, was originally an area founded (formally) in the 1840’s that featured luxurious tree-lined streets and large properties that boasted architectural uniqueness.
The neighborhood was formerly a plantation before its eventual incorporation into the city of Lafayette, and eventually New Orleans, after much development.
The neighborhood spans over about 130 acres, every street featuring eye-opening homes, each with their own signature, yet consistent, styles. Many of the homes feature signs/plaques that provide historical context to the home, such as when it may have been built, who the original owners were, and who may have lived there in the past. While there were definitely a variety of homes, the most eye-catching were the mansions that populated the area.
One of these mansions that attracted many visitors was the Buckner Mansion, which used to be owned by a family who ran a cotton plantation. This home is incredibly famous due to its featuring in the show American Horror Story. It is believed to be haunted by the slave of the original owners.
That said, the neighborhood, outside of the tour groups you may come across, is very, very quiet, almost providing an eerie setting considering the Big Easy is known for being particularly lively.
It would maybe, perhaps, had been more eerie if it was not for the sun shining on the lush landscape and floral displays within the properties we saw. We even walked by a few homes that had flowers that provided such wonderful scents and aromas - spring time is definitely the perfect time to visit.
Seeing these creative displays of nature made the stroll around the neighborhood that much more enjoyable. That said, some in our travel group could have imagined how much more eerie things may have been if exploring the neighborhood at night, especially with the Lafayette Cemetery No.1 nearby.
One of my favorite parts about exploring this neighborhood was finding certain homes that had historical significance or featured artistic expressions, such as the Women’s Guild New Orleans Opera House Association mansion which is used as an event venue, or the home that featured works of art from students who attend(ed) the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, as seen in the photos above.
So while New Orleans’ French Quarter is still a must see & do experience for those visiting the area, taking some time to recuperate from the previous night’s activities on Bourbon Street by visiting the serene Garden District is highly recommended.
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