A visit to New Orleans is just not complete without a few hours spent in Jackson Square. The centerpiece of the French Quarter, Jackson Square was originally called the Place d'Armes when it was founded by the Creoles in 1718. Not unlike its early days, the public square holds much of the city's cultural charms. The fenced in area resembles a small-town park with various flower gardens, manicured lawns, and ornately designed benches, all centered by a grand equestrian statue of General Andrew Jackson.
Outside the fence, however, is the profound melody of street musicians and performance art, open-air cafes, and throngs of tourists. For decades visitors have come to Jackson Square to see the local artwork which hangs along the black iron fence, to watch artists as they paint and sketch portraits or local scenery, to meet with psychics and fortune-tellers, to hear the incredible jazz music played live in the streets each day, or to sample the Cajun and Creole cooking at nearby restaurants.
Jackson Square is also surrounded by historically significant buildings. New Orleans was designed along the lines of a medieval French village, with the town square as the nucleus, making it a prime location for the city's church and government buildings. At the northwest side of the square sits the impressive St. Louis Cathedral, named for France's saint-king, Louis IX. The cathedral is the third church on this site; the former two were destroyed by hurricane and by fire.
To the right of the cathedral is the Cabildo, one of the state's most important buildings. Now a museum, the Cabildo contains many important documents pertaining to Louisiana's history. In fact, transfer papers for the Louisiana Purchase were signed here in 1803. To the left of the cathedral is the Presbytere, a near mirror image of the Cabildo. Formally used as a courthouse, the Presbytere is now a museum as well.
Along St. Peter and St. Anne Streets, which border the east and west sides of Jackson Square, are the Upper and Lower Pontalba Apartments. The bottom floor houses many unique shops and restaurants, while the floors above are occupied by local residents. The buildings were constructed between 1849 and 1851, ranking them among the nation's oldest apartment houses.
At the southeast end of Jackson Square is Decatur Street, where visitors will find a queue of mule-drawn carriages and their eccentric drivers soliciting passersby for rides through the French Quarter. Across Decatur Street is the 24-hour Café du Monde, serving its beloved beignets and café au lait, among other such treats.
Directly next to Café du Monde is a set of stairs that leads to a concrete platform called Washington Artillery Park. Here you will find the best view of Jackson Square. You will also see the Mississippi River behind you when facing the square. A quiet stroll along the Riverwalk leads both to history and to progress, with the French Market to the east and Harrah's Casino to the west. Also to be found along the way are steamboat tours, more street performers, the Aquarium of the America's, and the Shops at Canal Place.
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