The Faubourg Marigny, immediately downriver of the Vieux Carré, is a                                                                                  bohemian neighborhood with a Caribbean-cosmopolitan vibe. The bright                                                                                historic Creole cottages, shotguns and Classic Revival homes that fill this                                                                            neighborhood, which was established in 1806, are the homes of chefs, artists,                                                                    writers, musicians, academics and others, lifelong New Orleanians and                                                                                transplants from around the world alike, who were inspired enough by the                                                                            Marigny’s unique character to make their home here.

 

Stroll down the streets to see that houses are lovingly cared for here; the neighborhood association, the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association (founded in 1972), is very active and monitors any change that threatens the unique character and the special quality of life in the Marigny — a sign of the passion many residents have for their neighborhood, which was named a National Register Historic District in 1974. Historic banks, corner stores and even bakeries have been refurbished as homes and guesthouses, while riverfront warehouses accommodate artists’ studios and performance spaces. There are delightful cafes and restaurants tucked within the neighborhood for residents and wandering tourists to enjoy, and some of the impressive churches have been repurposed as performance venues and hotels. The gorgeous waterfront Crescent Park, a 1.4-mile span of greenery and path along the Mississippi River that runs through Marigny and Bywater, has an ADA-accessible entrance at N. Peters and Marigny streets. 

 

The Marigny’s most popular draw is Frenchmen Street, a vibrant stretch of

music clubs between the foot of Esplanade Avenue and Royal Street where

excellent jazz and other live music can be heard seven nights a week. Just

up the street, a bit off the beaten path, St. Claude Avenue from Elysian

Fields to St. Roch Avenue is quickly becoming a hip, more local scene with

funky venues offering everything from alternative theater, comedy, and

burlesque to DJs, indie rock, and a free Monday night bluegrass pickin’

party that welcomes anyone with an instrument to join in the fun. By day,

the Healing Center on St. Claude Avenue offers fresh food, yoga and other

healthful options. 

 

The Faubourg Marigny was once the plantation of Marquis Antoine Xavier Bernard Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville, a Creole bon vivant who dazzled New Orleans with his flair and enormous wealth. He subdivided his property in 1806 and the residential neighborhood began to develop as lots were sold to an eclectic mix of entrepreneurs and laborers, including Creoles, free people of color, Americans and immigrants, especially Germans. Many homes were built by free women of color, including the Rosette Rochon House at 1515 Pauger St., which was constructed around 1815 by an entrepreneur who amassed an amazing fortune by the time of her death. This mix of residents gave the neighborhood a distinctly European air that is still present today.

​

Many thanks to the Preservation Resource Center for providing this wonderful information! (www.prcno.org)