A site soaked in history, Old Spanish Fort is the site of a former stronghold of the Spanish Empire. Dating as far back as the 17th century, the fort is believed to have been built by the French as the first line of defense against forces using the route through the Bayou St. John. The fort was then handed over to the Spanish, who then remodeled the structure, before decommissioning it in 1823.
New Orleans artist Jon Schooler captures the attention of art aficionados with the whimsical oil on canvas paintings on display in Jon Schooler Gallery. This Oak Street gallery features the original colorful and spiritual pieces that have earned Schooler a prominent place in New Orleans's fine art community. Call ahead for open house hours or to schedule an appointment to visit the gallery. -Bethany Culp
In 1840 plans were put into place to commission a statue of Andrew Jackson for the center of Jackson Square. The bronze statue of General Jackson atop his horse was completed on December 1, 1855, but was not unveiled in New Orleans until February 9, 1856. A crowd of nearly 25,000 people gathered around Jackson Square for the unveiling ceremony. Artist Clark Mills designed the statue at a cost of $30,000. The Louisiana legislature also had allocated $10,000 for the project. Most of the remaining funding for the project is said to have been donated by the Baroness Micaela Almonaster de Pontalba.
Named after the illustrious plantation owner Martin de Lino de Chalmette, this historic place is easily accessible to visitors in New Orleans who can opt for a day trip here. Completely ravaged by the devastating Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, resilient Chalmette has picked up the pieces and rebuilt itself slowly but surely. A visit here is in order!