Jackson Square: then and now

1900 vs 2008 · New Orleans, LA

NowThen

Then, 1900A colored photograph from about 1900 of Jackson Square, with the statue, St. Louis Cathedral and a few people walking.Photo: Detroit Photographic Co. · Public domain · Source · resized, cropped

Today, 2008Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Photo from 2008.Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source · resized

The story

In the 19th century the square was the Place d'Armes, the traditional site of important ceremonies and parades.

On December 18, 1814, Andrew Jackson reviewed about 6,000 troops there. His speech, translated by Edward Livingston, urged unity against a common enemy. The Americans then won the Battle of New Orleans.

The square kept the Place d'Armes name until 1851, when the current Andrew Jackson statue was erected and it became Jackson Square. It is a National Historic Landmark.

Did you know? Jackson used the square to muster troops before the Battle of New Orleans.

Historians argue about this. Nothing big is disputed here. The mistake is thinking the square always had Jackson's name.

Fact or tall tale?

SolidJackson Square was originally called the Place d'Armes.
The National Park Service: it kept that name until 1851.
Not trueJackson Square was named for Andrew Jackson from the day it was laid out.
It was the Place d'Armes until the statue was erected in 1851.

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

Stamp it in person

Go there, answer the question that only someone standing at Jackson Square can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.

Play New Orleans

More in New Orleans

Next: St. Louis Cathedral. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.