Following Bienville: The Founding of New Orleans

The origin story of New Orleans is a tale of rampant corruption, unchecked greed, fiendish vice, and gross incompetence – not much has changed!

Join me on an epic journey of discovery as I trace the route of the first French explorers to this area by paddling down Bayou St. John and walking overland to the French Quarter, exploring the geography and history of the city along the way.

~REFERENCES~

[1] B.F. French. Historical Collections of Louisiana and Florida, Including Translations of Original Manuscripts Relating to Their Discovery and Settlement (1875). Albert Mason, Page 24-25

[2] Lawrence N. Powell. The Accidental City: Improvising New Orleans (2012). Harvard University Press, Page 11-15

[3] Philomena Hauck. Bienville: Father of Louisiana (1998). Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Page 12-13

[5] Hauck, Page 23-25

[6] Hauck, Page 6

[7] Hauck, Page 44-57

[8] Powell, Page 25-32

[9] Richard Campanella. Bienville’s Dilemma: A Historical Geography of New Orleans (2008). Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Page 109-110

[10] Campanella, Page 77-78

[12] Campanella, Page 111

[13] Powell, Page 43-51

[14] Powell, Page 68-73

[15] Karen Ordahl Kupperman. A True and Exact History of the Island of Barbados by Richard Ligon (2011). Hackett Publishing Company, Page 19

[16] Hauck, Page 89

[17] Powell, Page 56-58

[revencovictor]

You know, Bienville was kinda like the reverse Shrek. Desperately trying to get people into his swamp

[TheHistocrat]

Came for the New Orleans history, stayed to keep a running tally of how many times I'd have fallen in the Bayou if it was me.

[Blownapart]

“George Washington is way too problematic of a historical figure for me to dress up as.”
*Has a Nazi uniform is his closet*

[Jrez]

I love the history hecklers, "Bienville didn't have sunglasses!" lmao

[AlternateHistoryHub]

My god the absolute commitment. Paddling down a creek in a wool outfit, while also going through the history off the top of your head.

A feathered cap tip to you sir

[sarudon]

Life's too short to not get drunk in a costume!

[OhDasGood]

My dad, an army brigade commander at fort Bragg, used some of your content from checkmate lincolnites to teach his officers about rebellion. Keep up this amazing content.

[HistorywithCy]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...whether in a candlelit room, on a kayak, on the streets or the shores of the bayou, you are probably the best historian/storyteller on this platform...edutainment at its best!

[Jjames]

“On the corner of Robert E. Lee street and Beauregard Avenue... two names that will never change!”

Ah, this kind of humor is why I subbed to the channel.

[enclavesoldier]

As soon as I realized that the red stick meant “Baton Rouge” my two braincells exploded after figuring out the connection to the current city today.

[thexalon]

"People said it would be daft to build a city in a swamp, but I built one anyway, just to show 'em!" - Bienville, probably. That said, making a good city seems to be in the man's name.

[crixxxxxxxxx]

Water splash on the kayak camera perfectly obscuring Bienville’s face

[mjr_schneider]

Atun-Shei: "George Washington is far too problematic a historical figure for me to dress up as."

Johnny Reb: 👁👄👁
Klaus: 👁👄👁

[ZephLodwick]

I'm now imagining Atun Shei walking into the pub dressed up as Bienville and ordering a pint.

[tylerelliott]

When I was in Quebec half the heroes were obscure explorers, like Jolliet. The guy mapped the Mississippi and tipped his canoe and lost the map

[dorkmax]

I enjoy the fact that run-of-the-mill New Orleonaise know who Bienville is right off the cuff.

[gheathen]

6:00 No matter where you go someone's Gotta complain about how accurate tour reenactor costume is..

[jbitt]

I love that some rando in the neighborhood knew exactly who he was dressed up as. That's taking an interest in local history.

[FakeSchrodingersCat]

I honestly cannot think of another city where someone walking around dressed as a French Colonial, carrying a Bourbon flag and a beer gets that little of a reaction.

[iammrbeat]

Ok, so this is now my favorite video of yours so far.