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Offered languages
- English
We have brought back our Waters of Katrina History Tour where we offer a unique insight into the untold history of water and its relationship to New Orleans.
With a concentration on Katrina, this journey will take you through past and present, exploring the natural and man-made disasters that created a need for new and improved ways to deal with our city below sea level.
Water has shaped the culture of this city. Every generation of New Orleanians have been plagued by floods.
On tour you will hear about the history of the city and the 20th-century innovations surrounding our plight with water and storms. We will show you how water has been integral in shaping the city as we know it today.
Thurs, Fri, Sat: 10 am
2 hours
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This address brings you to the amphitheater. You will notice a semi circle of concrete steps. Your guide will meet you at the bottom of those steps. You will receive a text from the guide describing themselves before the meeting time.
Itinerary
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1Mississippi River
New Orleans and the Mississippi River are extricably linked. Tourism, trade and commerce are all powered by the river, lakes and the gulf that surrounds it. But the very thing that powers the city’s economy also makes it vulnerable to catastrophic floods. We will discuss this in detail
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
This park was named after Benjamin Latrobe who built New Orleans' first water system
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
This area used to be flood walls, warehouses, and industrial that ran along the Mississippi River. The area was transformed into a public park complete with lush greenery, bricked walkways, and public art, and it opened to the public before the 1984 World’s Fair, which the city hosted that year. The park was named for philanthropist Malcolm Woldenberg, who contributed to the park’s creation.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Jackson Square
Jackson Square, or the Place d’Armes, as it was originally known, began to take its shape in August 1721, when French engineers laid out a plan for the new colonial capital of La Louisiane. We will discuss the histroy as we view this gorgeous square.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5French Market
In 1791, this French Market originated as a Native American trading post along the Mississippi River. From there it continued to evolve into a cultural and commercial hub for New Orleans, as French and Spanish colonists opened the market up to ships and traders from all over the world. Over the next three centuries, immigrants from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean began to open their own venues at this French Quarter market, offering everything from Italian butcheries to African coffee and Choctaw spices.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6French Quarter
This was the original city. When the French created a permanent colony here they initiated a century’s-long effort to pin the Mississippi within its banks by building man made levees on top of the natural ones. But the Mississippi river was not easily tamed. Even Mark Twain said “The Mississippi River will always have its own way; no engineering skill can persuade it to do otherwise. And he was right. No matter what man did to try to control the river, floods plagued each generation of New Orleanians.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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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.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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