Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Walk a block to St. Philip Street. To your right is Place de France, a tiny
park that houses a golden bronze statue of Joan of Arc atop a horse. The
equestrian statue, a gift from France to New Orleans in 1959, is a replica of
the 1880 Emmanuel Fremiet statue in the Place des Pyramides in Paris.
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At this point, North Peters turns into Decatur Street. Continue walking past
the myriad shops that line the next block. Stop in one of the praline shops
along the way. Most are more than happy to let you sample their confections.
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Walk a block to Dumaine Street. To the left is Dutch Alley, a promenade that
runs parallel to North Peters. Named for former Mayor Ernest “Dutch”
Morial, Dutch Alley is home to an artists' co-op managed and operated by
nearly two dozen craftspeople. Original art on display includes jewelry, pho-
tography, paintings, pottery, fabric art, and works made from salvaged ma-
terials and glass. In the same area is the New Orleans Jazz National Historic-
al Park, which presents jazz performances, lectures, films, and exhibits.
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At the corner of St. Ann and Decatur is the Café Du Monde, known for its
café au lait (half coffee, half milk) and beignets, square pieces of dough fried
and covered with powdered sugar. This is the original Café Du Monde, which
opened in 1862 and continues to operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day
(except on Christmas Day).
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From the side of the Café Du Monde, take the stairs up to Washington Artil-
lery Park, a raised plaza that pays homage to the 141st Field Artillery of the
Louisiana National Guard, the oldest artillery unit in the United States. The
park features a replica of a cannon used in the Civil War. With Jackson
Square and St. Louis Cathedral on one side and the Mississippi River on the
other side, this is one of the most photographed spots in New Orleans.
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Take the stairs down to the ground level, and cross the parking lot and
streetcar tracks to the entrance of the Moon Walk, a riverfront promenade
where you can relax on a bench and enjoy the views. The Moon Walk is
named for former Mayor Moon Landrieu, under whose leadership the walk-
way opened in the 1970s.
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Once on the Moon Walk, turn right and continue walking. Among the land-
marks that you'll pass are the Jax Brewery, to your right, a shopping mall
that once served as the brewhouse for Jax Beer. The four floors of stores, res-
taurants, bars, and attractions include the Jax Collection, a museum where
you can learn the fascinating history of Jax Beer. To your left is the Toulouse
