718 St. Peter St.
New Orleans, LA 70116
29.958114,-90.065397
Make no bones about it, New Orleans
is in no short supply of bars; ranging from the most ragged watering holes
around to the most exquisite martini lounges. I’ve often wondered how much
alcohol is actually consumed on an average Saturday night in New Orleans. I’m
sure the dollar amount and the sheer volume would be staggering. Even more
interesting, would be to find out how much of that alcohol is actually kept
down and figure up a percentage of ultimately digested booze. I’ve woke up many
a Sunday mornings in New Orleans, giving myself the same speech of, “If I just
survive today, I promise I will never drink again!” As with many of us, that
solemn vow normally last a whole day or so, quickly searching for the hair of
the dog that bit me! I’ve always loved that old saying. In a completely
unrelated piece of useless information, I once read that the famous saying came
from centuries ago, when individuals were bitten by a rabid dog. At the time,
they believed the cure was to take a pinch of the rabid dog’s fur and actually
rub or stuff it into the wound. Sounds very sterile!
1100 Chartres St.
New Orleans, LA 70116
29.960856,-90.060682
It goes without saying that the
French Quarter contains some of the most concentrated amounts of history and
hauntings in the United States. We have also learned that following two huge
fires in 1788 and 1794, most of the entire city was destroyed and rebuilt. The
few structures that did survive eventually succumbed to time and damaging
storms. So far, we have mentioned several of the oldest buildings in the city
such as Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop and Madame John’s Legacy. This leaves us to
discuss the single oldest building still standing in the city New Orleans. It
is only fitting that the oldest building contains a story so outrageous and
outlandish, that it could only sound believable in a city such as the Big Easy.
Our story begins sometime around
1727 when King Louis XV of France ordered a group of Ursuline nuns from Rouen
to travel to New Orleans and establish a hospital and school for young
children. The building was designed by Ignace Nicholas Broutin, the Chief
Engineer of Louisiana, and architect Andre de Batz. Construction was complete
in 1734 and the Ursuline nuns moved in. The building was made out of
half-timber, also known as columbage.
In most cases, this type of wall was protected with stucco or some other
substance. Such was not the case with the convent, as the beams were left
exposed to the elements. This proved to be disastrous, as the weather soon
deteriorated the building and by 1744, it was on the brink of total collapse.
941 Bourbon St.
New Orleans, LA 70116
29.96101,-90.063587
Only a few steps away from the
Lafitte Guest House is one of my favorite bars in the city. Lafitte’s
Blacksmith Shop is said to be the oldest building in America that has been
transformed into a bar. Although the last few years seem to have brought in
large amounts of tourists, this dark little bar still is a great place to relax
and have a few drinks, while listening to the piano player in the rear. On many
occasions, I’ve sat in the back of this centuries old building listening to;
you guessed it, House of the Rising Sun.
I really wished the saying “If these walls could talk” were true. If such was
the case, one can only imagine what this bar would say. Other than the
electricity that runs the register and bar area, there are no lights throughout
the bar except for candles on the tables. Here, you can find your traditional
Louisiana beers, mixed drinks and a concoction called the “Voodoo Daiquiri”.
Not sure what is in it but after a couple, you may need a Voodoo priest to
revive you from your comatose state!
The building is rumored to have been
built sometime around the 1720’s by Nicolas Touze and is one of the oldest
buildings in the city to have survived the two huge fires that ravaged the
French Quarter. As expected, the bar gets its name from our beloved brother and
pirate duo, Jean and Pierre Lafitte. During the late 1790’s and early 1800’s,
the home was a regular hangout spot for the two who operated a blacksmith shop
here. The legitimate business was a cover which served as a front for their less
than legal privateer enterprises, which normally consisted of selling smuggled
goods. It is rumored that much of the Lafitte’s profits were often hidden
inside the walls of the building. Unfortunately, the treasures have long been
gone, but the memories and spirits during this era are still alive and well.
