History of New Orleans French Quarter | Almost Demolished

By the 20th century, the French Quarter of New Orleans, the neighborhood built by the wealthy aristocrats of the 18th and 19th centuries, had become a slum for the working class. In an attempt to stomp out the "ugly" and "outdated" neighborhood, demolition work began, but ironically the storied history of the Quarter or "Vieux Carre" became the very thing that swayed public opinion to save it from destruction.

#frenchquarter #neworleans #history

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introducing the French Quarter
0:48 Founding of Nouvelle Orleans by France
4:54 The Years of Spanish Rule
7:46 Under Yankee Control
11:40 The Slum
13:52 Saving the French Quarter

CREDIT:
Drone footage in this video (in order of appearance) is credited to:
Brad Pippin:
AND
Los Abydos:

The walking tour footage in this video is credited to Wind Walk Travel Videos:

MUSIC:
'Omega' by Scott Buckley is under a Creative Commons license (CC BY 3.0)

"Scott Buckley - Age of Wonder" is free to use on YouTube with credits.

"Scott Buckley - Horizons" is under a Creative Commons (CC BY 3.0) license.

"Scott Buckley - Passage Of Time" is is under a Creative Commons (CC BY 3.0) license.

REFERENCES/SOURCES OF RESEARCH:

History of the French Quarter:

The creation of the Vieux Carre Commission:

The founding of Louisiana and New Orleans:

About the Louisiana Purchase:

“Surrounded by Water” New Orleans History:

Historical walking tour of the French Quarter by FreeToursByFoot New Orleans:

New Orleans Architecture Tour, by FreeToursByFoot New Orleans:

French Quarter walking tour in 4k by FreeToursByFoot New Orleans:

New Orleans Natural History:

About the Pontalba Buildings:

About the Cabildo and Presbytere:

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DISCLAIMER: I am not a University-educated historian, Alex the Historian was a nickname I got while working at Disneyland as a tour guide. After 6 years of using it as a stage name for my channel, it would be detrimental to the channel to suddenly change the name.

[AlextheHistorian]

PRONUNCIATIONS: I know there are some French speaking folks who will be watching this video thinking I'm mispronouncing words like "Vieux Carre" or "Chartres Street". The way I said it in the video is currently the correct way of pronouncing it if you are a New Orleans native. New Orleans abandoned it's French culture centuries ago, and the Yankees came in and used their own pronunciations. If you go to the city today and try to pronounce the French street names or neighborhood names with an authentic pronunciation, they will automatically know you're not from New Orleans.

Also, just for fun: it's not "nawlins". The citizens find it perfectly normal for you to say "New Orleans", however if you do hear a native citizen say the name, they pronounce it closer to "Nuh Awlins", remember they have a southern drawl, not a smash-up of words. They take their time to speak it. :)

[jamesr]

New Orleans is my adopted home now. I bought a rundown house near the FQ and this video gave me the motivation to go over there today and continue the endless renovations. Thank you.

[sayitloudblcknproud]

New Orleans is one of my most favorite cities in all of America. It's a very special place, the sights, the sound, the smells (food, drink, the river) and most importantly, the people! There isn't a place like it in the world. Protect her and the Quarter forever!

[bobcheapek]

Napoleon: sells the Louisiana Territory for 15 million
USA: *This has been the best trade deal in the history of trade deals, maybe ever*

New Orleans may be small, but its history is HUGE

[markraymond]

My wife is a native Texan but she moved to New Orleans, with her parents, in the 70's. She lived in site of the Cathedral while her father got his PHD at Tulane. After graduation, they moved back to San Antonio but Nawlins touched her soul and it was her favorite vacation spot. We have a piece of the slate roof from the Cathedral that artists have painted and it is a prized possession for her. When I tried to get her to visit California (my childhood stomping grounds), we were watching a video for Disneyland and she saw NOS at the POTC facade. She wanted to visit. We never did get to Disneyland before she passed away but she gave me a new appreciation for New Orleans and it's Disney cousin. A very informative video, as always.

[cnD]

My maternal grandma lived there as a child, she was French & Spanish. Her family was very wealthy. Eventually her parents moved to El Paso, TX, where she met my Mexican grandpa who didn't have much. When she married him, they told her she couldn't have her dowry. My grandpa told her parents she would never have to work & he would take care of her. He kept his promise, they moved to CA & he got a job with he railroad. They had 12 children, owned their own home & always had food on the table. I hope to go back there just to see where my ancestors lived.

[elaineacummins]

You did an exceptional job with this video. I was raised in the French Quarter and live in the French Quarter to this day. I am an artist, second generation French Quarter artist. You told the story perfectly! Well done! I am reposting to my Facebook .

[mariannes]

New Orleans won my heart many years ago. I live in Texas but I visit up to twice a year. From all the places I’ve been around the world, this city is my happy place ❤

[josephduffy]

As A French Quarter resident and Bourbon Street biz owner, this is one of the best videos on my neighborhood. Thank you

[jessieperez]

Native New Yorker here. Visited NOLA a couple of years ago and I felt I was transported to a different time while I walked through the French quarters. I loved it. Loved all of Louisiana. Great people, great food, great vibe. And yes, I did notice the usual Spanish plaques that you see in any of the former colonial streets that Spain ran. I've seen those plaques in the colonial zone of the Dom. Republic too. Rich in history Louisiana.

[garya]

Well done . I was born and raised in New Orleans im 58 now and when i retire im out of here . Far enough north to not have to evacuate from Hurricanes . I am getting tired of it. I dont want to have to do it im my 80s

[SheilaRamseySoprano]

This was by far the most extraordinary account of New Orleans history I've ever had the pleasure of listening to and watching. It was thorough and concise at the same time and explained so many things. Thank you so much for putting this together, as I learned a great deal.

[bougiequeen]

My beautiful city! Pre-Katrina New Orleans was the best ⚜️

[Heavilymoderated]

I grew up in New Orleans. Since moving away, I’ve grown to dislike the heat, but the city is in my soul, and I’d put up with heat, floods, and mosquito clouds to be back home. Nowhere else makes me feel the same way as walking around the quarter or being out fishing in the marshlands and swamps.

[valmarsiglia]

Robert Moses also wanted to build a freeway through the Quarter to connect Elysian Fields with Canal St. The measure wasn't finally defeated till 1969. I shudder to think of how that would've destroyed so much of the neighborhood's character. For one thing, bye bye Café du Monde and French Market. Probably no Riverwalk either, since people would have to cross over or under a freeway to get there.

[skullheadwater]

I was born and raised here. It is unique in many ways. Thankfully many of the old neighborhoods which had been allowed to rot are being purchased by people for restoration.

[maikolmaikol]

Iam from Miami and I can't get enough of the big easy every chance I get new Orleans hear I come

[marlaborde]

One of my favorite memories of NewOrleans is early morning with a hot coffee listening to the city awaken. The sounds and the air has a magic all its own.

[mikeklein]

Our city is very flawed. Maybe more flawed than any other city. But to live here is to love the city. We all take pride in our city and its culture.

[myrnajucar]

I am from the Philippines. Thank you for this History on Youtube. I have akways been fascinated with New Orleans. There is something magical in its ambiance. Please do more videos of this kind on other places to educate us- the public.