Architecture

New settlements require proper resting places for their dead. Around 1763, British troops officially gained control of Baton Rouge and established a small fort on the Mississippi River there. However, since 1719, soldiers and white explorers had been buried near Native American mounds. Baton Rouge citizens were buried in the military cemetery near the fort, which accommodated Protestants; on private property; in Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Cemetery, opened in 1792; and in Highland Cemetery, so named in 1819. These downtown cemeteries had overflowed by 1850. A municipal, nondenominational cemetery was critically needed. Land on the eastern edge of town, dotted with magnolia trees, was purchased by the government, and Magnolia Cemetery easily became its name. Families of all races, religious affiliations, and economic status rest in Magnolia. Confederate and Union soldiers died there on August 5, 1862, and some became permanent residents. Historic Magnolia Cemetery’s subterranean graves are accentuated by plain or elaborate headstones or simple footstones, sarcophagi, and numerous statues.

One of the greatest outdoor museums in the world, New Orleans is acclaimed for its unique architecture. Glimpses of its evolving character from the colonial period to the present can be found in the open porches, balconies, arches, and stained-glass windows of its homes, from simple Creole cottages to suburban ranch houses. As you wander through the dynamic streets and alleyways of the city, this easy-to-follow, beautifully detailed guide will assist you in identifying and dating the houses you pass while placing them in their historical context.

Over one hundred hand-rendered illustrations of existing New Orleans homes as well as composite sketches of distinctive details highlight the characteristics commonly associated with certain types of homes. Maps point out areas of architectural development by periods, and a glossary clarifies the sometimes-confusing terminology used in discussing architecture.

Over 100 illustrations describe the building styles of each historical era and highlight some 60 buildings of particular importance.

The French Quarter, New Orleans’ historic center, is the most interesting sixty-six square blocks in America. Known as the Vieux Carré, and locally as the Quarter, it is a unique community which has evolved over the past three hundred years. Founded in 1718 by the French, the colony came under the control of the Spanish in 1762. They would hold it until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Despite devastating fires in 1788 and 1794, traces of each generation of occupants can still be seen in the the Quarter’s wrought-iron balconies, hidden courtyards, and grand ballrooms, although for the most part the architecture is Spanish.

Telling the story of its growth by analyzing its architecture, Historic Buildings of the French Quarter traces the history of the Quarter from its origins to the present. Over one hundred illustrations describe the building types and styles of each historical era and highlight some sixty individual buildings of particular importance. Similar in format to Vogt’s previous books, Historic Buildings of the French Quarter is designed to be an easy-to-use, definitive guide to New Orleans’ most unusual neighborhood.