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Interesting facts about New Orleans

People crowd the balconies and streets of the French Quarter during Mardi Gras 2013

Easily the most popular city – and one of the most colorful – in the state of Louisiana, New Orleans is famous for a lot of things. There’s the mouthwatering food, historic culture, soulful music, and even hair-raising horror stories. It’s truly one of those unique places you can’t help but fall in love with. Get to know more about this lively city with these fun facts:

Historical facts about New Orleans

  • New Orleans is actually NOT the capital of Louisiana, despite it being the most recognizable city in the state. The current capital is Baton Rouge. New Orleans, however, was the capital at one point during the French colonial rule until 1849.

  • New Orleans was founded by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, in 1718. The original streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter are named after the royal houses of France and Catholic saints.

  • The game of poker as we know it today has origins in New Orleans. French migrants brought what was then called Poque to their North American settlements. English speakers Anglicized the game and led to it being called ‘poker’.

  • Canal Street used to be the world’s widest street. As its name suggests, this stretch of land was originally meant to be the location for a canal.

  • The St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest operating cathedral in North America. The cathedral was originally built in 1727 and dedicated to the King Louis IX of France.

  • New Orleans is known by many as one of the most haunted cities in the United States. If you’re in the mood for a night of ghost hunting, hotels like the La Pavillon and the Bourbon Orleans Hotel will be right up your alley.

  • Jazz traces its roots to New Orleans. So, if you’re a jazz enthusiast, you may want to make that pilgrimage soon.

Fun facts about Mardi Gras

  • Despite it being hosted in NOLA every year, the first Mardi Gras actually took place in neighboring Mobile, Alabama.

  • New Orleans is known all over the world for its bar culture, and is one of the few places where alcohol can be served all day.

  • There was a crackdown on Mardi Gras parades both during the Spanish rule of New Orleans and later, by US authorities. The festival’s existence was eventually accepted.

  • The city has earned the nickname ‘The Big Easy’ thanks to the overall laidback vibe of its people – a far cry from residents of cities like New York.

  • While many may think that Mardi Gras is an adult-only celebration, it’s actually a family-friendly event. Away from the partying at Bourbon Street, you will find a lot of parades where you and your kids can join in. There’s even an entire parade dedicated to dogs!

Simply put, if you want to have fun every single day, living in New Orleans is a good option for you. Be sure to drop us at the Axis Realty Group a message. Reach us through email at Nicole(dotted)AxisRealty(at)Gmail(dotted)com or call 504.336.3000. You can also click here to learn more about our team’s services.