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Offered languages
- English
Explore New Orleans' rich and complex history with the Slavery, Voodoo & Resistance Walking Tour. This self-guided experience takes you through significant sites like the French Market, Jackson Square, and Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo, revealing stories of resilience and cultural survival. Uncover the legacy of enslaved individuals who shaped the city's identity while enjoying the freedom to explore at your own pace. Ideal for history enthusiasts and those seeking a deeper understanding of New Orleans' past, this tour allows you to pause and reflect as you navigate through the vibrant streets of the French Quarter and Tremé neighborhood.
- Self-guided tour lasting approximately two hours, covering two miles
- Visit historic sites including Oscar Dunn Park and Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1
- Learn about Voodoo as a cultural practice, not just a gimmick
- Perfect for those who prefer a private experience over group tours
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Begin at one of the oldest markets in the United States, where trade predates the founding of New Orleans. During the colonial period, enslaved people were permitted to sell food and crafts here on Sundays, and some saved those earnings to purchase freedom for themselves or family members.
Finish in one of America's oldest Black neighborhoods at a museum dedicated to African American history, art and culture in New Orleans and throughout the African diaspora. The tour brings together the stories of slavery, Voodoo, music and resistance here in Tremé
Itinerary
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1French Market - Shops of the Colonnade
Begin at one of the oldest markets in the United States, where trade predates the founding of New Orleans. During the colonial period, enslaved people were permitted to sell food and crafts here on Sundays, and some saved those earnings to purchase freedom for themselves or family members.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Joan of Arc Statue
Meet “Joanie on the Pony,” New Orleans' gilded tribute to Joan of Arc, the teenage French heroine who became the city's patron saint. Across the street, the National Park Service's French Quarter Visitor Center offers free exhibits exploring Louisiana history and the Battle of New Orleans.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3The Moonwalk Riverfront Park
Walk beside the Mississippi along the same waterfront that once helped make New Orleans the largest slave market in the Deep South. Between 1804 and 1862, an estimated 135,000 enslaved people were bought and sold in New Orleans at more than 50 sites throughout the city.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Jackson Square
Stand in the historic heart of New Orleans, once known as the Place d'Armes. The beautiful square was a military and civic center, but it also stood only steps from places where enslaved people were bought and sold, revealing the complicated history beneath one of New Orleans' most photographed landmarks.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Marie Laveau House of Voodoo
Step inside one of the Quarter's best-known voodoo shops, filled with ritual candles, talismans, books and spiritual objects. The tour uses this stop to look beyond Hollywood stereotypes and introduce the African spiritual traditions behind Louisiana Voodoo
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Preservation Hall (Pass by)
See one of America's legendary jazz venues. Opened in 1961, Preservation Hall provided a home for Black New Orleans musicians during segregation, while preserving a musical tradition whose rhythms can be traced back to the gatherings of enslaved Africans at Congo Square. Greg New Orleans’ Slavery, Vood…
Admission ticket free -
6Napoleon House
See two buildings representing dramatically different sides of New Orleans history. Napoleon House recalls a bizarre plan to rescue Napoleon Bonaparte from exile, while across the street the former St. Louis Hotel hosted elegant balls and some of the South's busiest slave auctions beneath the same roof.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Congo Square
Stand at one of the most important cultural sites in New Orleans. Enslaved Africans and free people of color gathered here on Sundays to drum, dance, trade and preserve traditions that would ultimately help shape jazz, blues, rock and other forms of American music. Greg New Orleans’ Slavery, Vood…
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8Louis Armstrong Park
Explore a park honoring some of New Orleans' greatest cultural figures, including Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Buddy Bolden and Mardi Gras Indian Chief Tootie Montana. It's a powerful bridge between the traditions of Congo Square and the music New Orleans eventually gave the world.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
9
Visit a landmark founded in 1841 by New Orleans' free Black community and described in the tour as the country's oldest African American Catholic parish. Beside it stands the Tomb of the Unknown Slave, a moving memorial dedicated to enslaved people buried in unmarked and unknown graves.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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