The remains of the Plantation of Pierre Denis De La Ronde sit quietly along Judge Perez Drive, a…read morefragment of early Louisiana history that has somehow survived suburban traffic and two centuries of weather. What's left of the grand house is fenced off with a low barrier that makes the message clear enough: look, learn, and respect the boundary. Even from the outside you can see the brick arches and the long, skeletal outline of what was once one of the most impressive Creole plantations in the region, a reminder of the Battle of New Orleans era standing in plain sight. The marker reads, "Command Colonel Third Regiment of Louisiana in the Battle of New Orleans night skirmish of December 23, 1814, fought on the grounds of this and adjoining plantations. Main house served as temporary British headquarters and hospital January 8, 1815. Ruins survive today as final structural remnant associated with the Battle of New Orleans." You don't need to step inside to appreciate it. The ruins are fully visible from the road, and standing there for a moment gives you a sense of how old this landscape really is, long before the modern parish grew up around it. It's a brief stop, but a worthwhile one, a quiet history lesson from two centuries ago that asks only that you observe without disturbing what remains. [Review 316 of 2026 - 94 in Louisiana - 25504 overall]

This spot in the middle of St Bernard Hwy looks like ruins that someone did not want to dispose of…read more That is not entirely true. It is the ruins of the plantation where the Battle of New Orleans was during the Revolutionary War. Very interesting historical marker. You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles,_Louisiana Also: https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/130364/De-La-Ronde-Ruins.htm Also: https://chalmetterefining.com/delaronde.html And while you are in the area, you might as well see some other sites. Check it out: https://www.visitstbernard.com/

Before the Civil War, New Orleans Was the Center of the U.S. Slave Trade The city of New Orleans…read morewas the largest slave market in the United States, ultimately serving as the site for the purchase and sale of more than 135,000 people. In an effort to prevent smuggling, the 1808 federal law banning slave imports from overseas mandated that captains of domestic coastal slavers create a manifest listing the name, sex, age, height, and skin color of every enslaved person they carried, along with the shippers' names and places of residence. One copy of the manifest had to be deposited with the collector of the port of departure, who checked it for accuracy and certified that the captain and the shippers swore that every person listed was legally enslaved and had not come into the country after January 1, 1808. A second copy got delivered to the customs official at the port of arrival, who checked it again before permitting the enslaved to be unloaded. At the Customs House in Alexandria, deputy collector C. T. Chapman had signed off on the manifest of the United States. In New Orleans, customs inspector L. B. Willis climbed on board and performed yet another inspection of the enslaved, the third they had endured in as many weeks. Scrutinizing them closely, he proved more exacting than his Balize colleague. Willis cared about the details. After placing a small check mark by the name of every person to be sure he had seen them all, he declared the manifest "all correct or agreeing.

The United States Customs house was formerly known as the Old Post Office and Customs House and…read morebecame a National Historic Landmark in 1974. Construction began in 1848 and it wasn't completed until 1881 due to multiple redesigns and more importantly the outbreak of the American Civil War. It is one of the oldest federal buildings in the Southern United States. The building sits on an entire city block, bounded by Canal, North Peters, Iberville and Decatur. The builing is actually constructed of brick that is sheathed in granite. The floor plan of the Customs House is arranged around a Greek Revival room known as Marble Hall. This room features Corinthian colums that are adorned with the heads of gods and goddesses. It is simply a marvel to see, and if you're lucky enough to get a tour of the inside, you'll see one of the finest architectural treasures the City of New Orleans has to offer. Some of the ceilings here have to be at least 20-25 feet high.

Closed to the public but still worth a walk past on your Garden District Tour…read more F. Scott Fitzgerald's Boarding House, located on Prytania and Sixth Streets in New Orleans, holds historical significance as the place where the renowned American writer spent about a month. This is where he reportedly made final revisions to his novel "This Side of Paradise" before departing for Montgomery, Alabama to marry Zelda. The boarding house is cherished by locals who proudly claim Fitzgerald as one of their own.

Beautiful spot to rest, reflect, and watch traffic on the mighty Mississippi River…read more Albeit a bit off the beaten path, in most cases, that's usually what folks are looking for when you are searching for World's End, am I right? Part of the "user agreement" in visiting, is to always leave the location cleaner than you found it. Give a hoot; don't pollute.

Where to start with World's End? Is it a park? Is it abandoned public property? Is it private…read moreproperty? Who knows and frankly I don't think anyone really cares. This little patch of land sits along the Mississippi River and the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, better known as the Industrial Canal. This area offers up excellent views of the City of New Orleans and some front row seats to the river boats passing by. Area has been pup friendly but due to its quite yet semi sketchy nature a leash is recommended. There are a few abandoned buildings nearby complete with mattresses, broken glass, and plenty of drug paraphernalia. Watch your step. Near the end of the land it drops down beyond the levee the a naturally made sandy area I hesitate to call a beach. You can usually find some campers set up in this area but typically they keep to themselves. Overall this little hidden gem is a decent little retreat without going outside the city. Feel free to bring a folding chair, blanket, and some suds for some r&r.

A pretty blue bridge on the bayou that is basically a park of its own. Keep walking and you'll get…read moreto Pitot House and then City Park. A perfect route for touristing or running.

Dear future love of my life, I love this bridge! I'm pretty convinced that it's a magical place!…read moreThere have been many a night when friends have celebrated birthdays, going away parties, or just getting together on this bridge. And at night when the white lights are in it just looks magical! I've seen people get married here and take engagement pictures here. Hint hint! Hehe This bridge is one of the historical landmarks that is quintessential Bayou St. John! Where else will you find a pedestrian bridge that opens sideways? Lately I've been seeing people put padlocks on the bridge reminiscent of what they do in Paris to signify ones eternal love. Although the sentiment is tres romantique it's actually damaging to the bridge so please don't do it! The weight of the locks will damage the already fragile bridge. So if you ever fancy a way to enjoy a blissful fall or spring evening then grab a chair or blanket and head to the bridge! You may even see me there! Enjoy!!

They say the river is eternal…read more The Steamboat Natchez is such a huge part of the history of New Orleans and the Mississippi River. The river gives and the river takes away. Imagine taking a ride on the Steamboat Natchez with the beautiful paddle on a jazz cruise on a beautiful sunny day. Nice to have this history memorialized in this huge mural in the Central Business District/CBD.

Not actually a lighthouse but it still counts. Built in 1924, this was originated as a workshop for…read morethe blind. Today, it's an event space that is available for pop-up shops and art shows. The architecture and design is a complete novelty - there are no ships here in danger of running aground on Camp Street even though the rotating light still works. The architect of the lighthouse was Emile Weil, who also designed the Saenger Theatre. Oscar Gwin Jr. was in charge of construction. The lighthouse portion of the building was modeled after the Milneburg lighthouse, located on the UNO campus where Pontchartrain Beach amusement park was located. It was most recently a glass studio, one of the largest in the South. The three glass ovens are still there. [Review 14140 overall, 1462 of 2020, number 12 in Louisiana.]

I attended a Dinner Lab event in this building last night. And I think the owners are trying to…read moremarket themselves as an event space. The public space is airy and inviting. There is a small room in the lighthouse portion of the building that is accessible. There was also an really nice 2nd story outdoor deck. The space does seem to still be a work in progress. There was room filled with junk that was visible from the main space via windows. The bathroom door either stuck or wouldn't close and there's only 1 which is an issue at a dinner for 50 people. But it's such an interesting space that I hope they can make it work. It's been featured on Roadside America because it's such an unusual building. The lighthouse was added to a boring old building in 1924 when this spot became the Lighthouse for the Blind...which hasn't been here for decades. Most recent business that I can remember was the lighthouse glass studio. So fingers crossed that they can make a go of it...

The Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge still feels like one of those quietly confident pieces of…read moreinfrastructure, a cable stayed design that rises cleanly over the Mississippi River between Destrehan and Luling with a 1,220 foot main span and an orthotropic deck that helped it earn national engineering honors when it opened in 1983. It was the first cable stayed bridge ever built across the Mississippi and only the third of its kind in the United States, later renamed for Hale Boggs, the longtime Louisiana congressman and House Majority Leader whose support helped bring the project to life before his death. When you cross it today, it sits comfortably alongside other modern cable stayed spans like the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge in Missouri https://www.yelp.com/biz/bill-emerson-memorial-bridge-cape-girardeau?hrid=wOk22tiDDdlKU2LajFgdQQ, the Greenville Bridge on US 82 https://www.yelp.com/biz/greenville-bridge-lake-village?hrid=WGXvzX4AagbXz9LLRId8Pg, and the Sunshine Skyway in Florida https://www.yelp.com/biz/sunshine-skyway-bridge-saint-petersburg-2?hrid=cjkaRIWYK1Os9_4UOHRaDg, all part of that late twentieth century shift toward cleaner lines and lighter decks that still feel fresh decades later. Once you're on the bridge, the height gives your passengers a wide sweep of the river and the levees while the driver keeps their eyes on the road, and the geometry of the cables creates a sense of balance that feels almost serene. The parks tucked under the approaches on both sides add to the experience, giving you a place to pause and appreciate how this kind of structure reshapes a parish's daily rhythm and long term growth, and the comparison to its peers only reinforces how well it holds its own. It's impressive without being showy, a bridge that rewards both the quick pass through and the slower, more appreciative visit, and one that still carries the quiet civic pride of the man whose name it bears. [Review 327 of 2026 - 101 in Louisiana - 25514 overall]

What kind of name for a restaurant! What do you do? Order Dinner and go sit on the bridge?…read more Sure did! Nice bridge and nice small town on the river actually it was lunch. I ordered. It was a beautiful day and I ate a roast beef Poboy from the River Road Market nearby. You should try it. Lots of good food and good prices. Actually, the whole area is beautiful. Not just the bridge. By the way, you can't sit on the bridge. It is against the law. After you watched the bridge, go check out the Seafood Pot! Probably the best Seafood in all the area of New Orleans. Seasoned very well and the boiled shrimp are to die for! Check it out if you can.