When you are growing up in New Orleans, school isn’t always the place where you can learn the true facts about this city. Here are 9 things that they don’t always teach you about NOLA in school–but will definitely astound you.
- The Axeman
Wikicommons Did you know New Orleans was the home of one of the most legendary serial killers of the early 19th century? Rumored to be associated with the Italian mafia, the Axeman was never caught.
- The Dueling Oaks
Flickr.com / Infrogmation of New Orleans If you’ve ever felt a certain eeriness in City Park nearby NOMA, you weren’t going crazy—this was actually the site for duels, a popular practice in New Orleans throughout the second half of the 19th century.
- NOLA has more historical districts than anywhere else in America.
Wikicommons / Chris Litherland There’s a reason we have so much charm in one place—there are an incredible number of preserved districts and just as many dedicated citizens who work hard to keep it that way!
- The Upstairs Lounge
publicbroadcasting.net One of the most deadly arson attacks against the gay community in United States history, this 1973 tragedy took 32 people’s lives.
- Mark Essex Incident
Wikicommons / Inforgmation 1973 was a tough year for NOLA, as the city was rocked by Mark Essex, a military trained sniper who went on an 11 hour rampage that ended on the roof of what was then the Howard Johnson Hotel, pictured here as the Holiday Inn.
- Storyville, 1897 – 1917
Wikicommons Sidney Story became a legendary alderman of New Orleans when he established a “red-light district” making prostitution legal in a particular neighborhood of New Orleans. It quickly became known as Storyville and hosted some of the best musicians in the area.
- The Robert Charles Riots
Wikicommons / New Orleans Times-Democrat In 1900, white mobs descended throughout New Orleans, killing 28 black people after an African American laborer named Robert Charles fatally shot a white police officer.
- The St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the United States.
Wikicommons / Nowhereman86 This old Cathedral has been keeping the lights on (even before there was electricity) for well over a century.
- Good Children Avenue
Facebook.com / Good Children Gallery Before St. Claude Ave was St. Claude Ave, it was Good Children St., and many other streets surrounding had unique names as well.
How many of these little known facts did you already know about New Orleans? What other things do you know about this city that you think others don’t? Let us know in the comments below! We love to hear your feedback and comments!
Wikicommons
Did you know New Orleans was the home of one of the most legendary serial killers of the early 19th century? Rumored to be associated with the Italian mafia, the Axeman was never caught.
Flickr.com / Infrogmation of New Orleans
If you’ve ever felt a certain eeriness in City Park nearby NOMA, you weren’t going crazy—this was actually the site for duels, a popular practice in New Orleans throughout the second half of the 19th century.
Wikicommons / Chris Litherland
There’s a reason we have so much charm in one place—there are an incredible number of preserved districts and just as many dedicated citizens who work hard to keep it that way!
publicbroadcasting.net
One of the most deadly arson attacks against the gay community in United States history, this 1973 tragedy took 32 people’s lives.
Wikicommons / Inforgmation
1973 was a tough year for NOLA, as the city was rocked by Mark Essex, a military trained sniper who went on an 11 hour rampage that ended on the roof of what was then the Howard Johnson Hotel, pictured here as the Holiday Inn.
Wikicommons
Sidney Story became a legendary alderman of New Orleans when he established a “red-light district” making prostitution legal in a particular neighborhood of New Orleans. It quickly became known as Storyville and hosted some of the best musicians in the area.
Wikicommons / New Orleans Times-Democrat
In 1900, white mobs descended throughout New Orleans, killing 28 black people after an African American laborer named Robert Charles fatally shot a white police officer.
Wikicommons / Nowhereman86
This old Cathedral has been keeping the lights on (even before there was electricity) for well over a century.
Facebook.com / Good Children Gallery
Before St. Claude Ave was St. Claude Ave, it was Good Children St., and many other streets surrounding had unique names as well.
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