13 Fun Facts About New Orleans, Louisiana

Walk down the aisle at the St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continually operating cathedral in the United States. Buy a beignet (a light square doughnut usually sprinkled with powdered sugar). Listen to live jazz music on the street. Traveling to New Orleans will exceed your expectations.

Key Facts About New Orleans:

Here are some interesting facts you should know about my favorite city on the Mississippi River: New Orleans, LA.

2. New Orleans had beef with China for a while over the length of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway held the Guinness World Record as the longest bridge over water in the world. In July 2011, the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China was named by Guinness World Records as the ‘longest bridge over water’ which created controversy in the United States.

Supporters of the Lake Pontchartrain argued that it should keep the title based on its length over water alone, which spans 23.79 miles (38.28 km), compared to Jiaozhou Bay Bridge’s 16.1 miles (25.9 km) over water.

But Guinness World Records used a measurement that included land bridges and an under-sea tunnel, stating that the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is 26.5 miles (42.6 km) long. This led to the creation of two categories for bridges over water: continuous and aggregate lengths. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway then became the longest bridge over water (continuous), while the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge was recognized as the longest bridge over water (aggregate). Yay! At Guinness World Records Boy and Girls School, everyone wins.

3. New Orleans was the capital of the French colony of Louisiana until it wasn’t

New Orleans was established as the capital of the French colonial lands in the New World. It was twice named the state capital: first moved to Donaldsonville in 1825, then to Baton Rouge in 1846, back to New Orleans in 1864, and finally to Baton Rouge in 1879.

Founded in 1718 by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, New Orleans began as a modest trading camp on the curving east bank of the Mississippi River. As “La Nouvelle-Orléans” grew, the city followed the river’s curve, earning the nickname “Crescent City” for its distinctive shape. The geographic oddities and evolution contributed to New Orleans culture, heritage and significance.

4. New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz music

New Orleans is widely regarded as the birthplace of jazz. Notable jazz musicians from the city include legends like Louis Armstrong and Buddy Bolden. Jazz emerged from the fusion of traditional African and Caribbean sounds with American gospel and marching band music.

The annual New Orleans Jazz Fest draws fans from around the world, celebrating this rich musical heritage. New Orleans today is also home to numerous jazz clubs, where visitors can experience live performances and the jazz culture that continues to thrive.

5. And it is the birthplace of jazz funerals

New Orleans is probably the American birthplace of jazz funerals, a tradition that blends somber mourning with lively celebration. The term “jazz funeral” was long used by outsiders, but many New Orleans musicians and practitioners preferred “funeral with music,” as jazz was only part of the ceremony’s musical repertoire. This term, however, became more accepted towards the end of the 20th century.

Traditionally, a jazz funeral starts with a slow, mournful song played by a brass band as the procession makes its way to the cemetery. After the burial, the music shifts to an upbeat, celebratory style, reflecting the belief in celebrating the deceased’s life.

6. New Orleans has a club dedicated to preserving and appreciating big oak trees

The Live Oak Society is an organization dedicated to big oak trees. Founded in 1934, its mission is to advance the culture and preservation of the southern live oak. There are more than 7,000 live oaks registered with the Society. The Live Oak Society is composed entirely of trees, with the exception of one honorary human chairman.

7. New Orleans is where craps and poker originated

New Orleans is the birthplace of poker and craps. The first game of poker was played in the city in the 19th century using a 20-card pack. Poker’s French predecessor, Poque, dates back to the 17th century. When French colonists brought the game to New Orleans, English-speaking settlers changed the name to poker and developed the modern game we know today.

Craps also has its origins in New Orleans, likely introduced by Bernard de Marigny. The name “craps” likely derives from the French word “crapaud,” meaning “frog,” referring to the way players would crouch to shoot dice.

8. New Orleans is home to the first All-American mafia

New Orleans was the original home of the Mafia in the United States because the city was the preferred U.S. destination for Italian immigrants before they moved to New York.

In 1890, warfare broke out between rival groups of Italian immigrants working at the New Orleans docks. Police Chief David Hennessy sought to put an end to the violence. Hennessy’s efforts were met with a hail of bullets on his way home from work.

9. New Orleans is the most haunted city in America

New Orleans is considered one of the most haunted cities in the United States. Ryan Murphy portrayed the horror surrounding the tale of Delphine LaLaurie in his American Horror Story series, but there is a whole history of restless souls, ghouls, and ghosts throughout New Orleans.

Some famous haunted locations in New Orleans include:

• The LaLaurie Mansion: Infamous for the horrific tales of Delphine LaLaurie, who tortured and murdered slaves in her Royal Street estate.
• The French Quarter’s Gardette-LePrete Mansion: Known for an unsolved massacre.
• Hotel Monteleone: Famous for the ghost of a child and other eerie occurrences.
• St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: The final resting place of the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau.
• The Sultan’s Palace: A site with a chilling history of mystery and murder.
• The Louisiana State Museum: Houses the death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte, cast a day after his death in 1821 on the island of St. Helena.

10. Marie Laveau was the wellness influencer of her era and made Voodoo famous

No list of facts about New Orleans can escape voodoo. Voodoo was made popular in Louisiana in the 1800s by Marie Laveau, known as “The Voodoo Queen.” Voodoo has roots in West African Vodun and is a way of connecting with nature and spirits through prayer, rituals, readings, song, and dance. Basically, if she were alive now, she’d be leading this new age old religion combination on Instagram.

11. New Orleans city is literally underwater

New Orleans is situated below sea level, which explains the city’s distinctive raised houses and the extensive network of levees and massive pumps designed to protect against flooding. These defenses, however, tragically failed during Hurricane Katrina, leading to widespread devastation.

Additionally, the high water table in the area necessitates above-ground tombs in New Orleans’ historical cemeteries. This unique burial practice has become an iconic aspect of the city’s landscape and history.

12. Andrew Jackson’s monument in New Orleans earned plaudits as the first of its kind

The monument to General Andrew Jackson at Jackson Square was the world’s first equestrian statue in which the horse had more than one foot off the base. This pose has since become a standard in the narrow world of equestrian statues. The original bronze version sits in Lafayette Square within President’s Park in Washington, D.C., just to the north of the White House.

13. Mardi Gras is one of the few state-specific official holidays

Mardi Gras is held across New Orleans during the two weeks before and through Fat Tuesday. The actual day of Mardi Gras is an official holiday across Louisiana. New Orleans Mardi Gras celebrations feature parades, balls, and the tradition of throwing beads and other items from floats.

Mardi Gras was made a legal holiday in 1875 when Governor Warmoth signed the “Mardi Gras Act.” Mardi Gras now brings in over a million visitors to New Orleans every year.