Cradled in the crescent of the Mississippi River and circumscribed by wetlands, New Orleans has faced numerous challenges since its founding as a French colonial outpost in 1718. For three centuries, the city has proved resilient in the face of natural disasters and human activities, and its resulting urban fabric is the product of social, political, commercial, economic, and cultural circumstances that have defined how local residents have interacted with their surroundings. This detailed survey of the built environment—an authoritative, comprehensive, post-Hurricane Katrina overview of buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes—tells the city’s compelling and fascinating story though concise discussions of nearly 300 architecturally significant structures, open spaces, and lesser-known places, enhanced by 175 photographs and 23 maps. Conveniently organized into thirteen neighborhood tours, two road trips into nearby parishes, and three excursions up and down the Mississippi River along the historic Great River Road, the volume clearly shows how various architectural styles, land uses, economic conditions, social customs, and cultural factors merge to create the community’s unique flavor. Enlivened by nine topical essays highlighting everything from renowned authors, cuisine, and jazz to public markets, green spaces, and historic preservation, this handy insider’s guidebook to the broad sweep of New Orleans’s unique built and natural environments will appeal to all who are interested in the design history of one of America’s most interesting places.
