Fun Facts About New Orleans History (Metairie, Poydras: home, neighborhood, live)

[confusedasusual]

I just learned that New Orleans used to have a overnight ferry that could take you to Havana, Cuba. I am fascinated by this (and sad I missed out by being born too late!) West India Fruit and Steamship Company - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I know that a lot of you on here are history buffs, so I thought I would start a thread with fun and interesting historical facts about our ville jolie. What are some fun and interesting tidbits you would care to share?

[Neworleansisprettygood]

On the same note, New Orleans was home to Standard Fruit (now Dole) and United Fruit (Chiquita). They exerted so much pull in Latin America that the term "banana republic" was born.

The Cuban flag, as we know it today, was first flown on Poydras St. There's a plaque outside the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ska came about largely through the influence of New Orleans radio stations. Their powerful signals would reach all the way into the Caribbean.

[KamGT]

wow. interesting stuff. more please.

[Neworleansisprettygood]

Just after the French had decided to settle in the area, the English sent a flotilla up the river. The French, wanting to keep the territory, sent several boats down the river to give the impression of a large force in the area. The English turned around and left; hence the neighborhood known today as "English Turn".

Most of the architecture in the French Quarter is actually Spanish. After the French built the original city, the territory passed into Spanish hands. The city was almost totally destroyed by fire, and so it was rebuilt under Spanish rule.

The current site of Metairie Cemetary (not in Metairie) was originally a race track. Also, Race Street in the lower Garden District was named because it was planned to be one end of a racetrack in that neighborhood. The track was never built.

[confusedasusual]

Here are some things I found interesting:
New Orleans is where opera was first performed in the U.S., back in 1796.

Poker was invented in New Orleans in the 1700s.

When individual states had their own currency, the Louisiana dix (French for 10) was a favored currency for trade. In English they became known as “dixies” and the term “Dixieland” was coined.

[Neworleansisprettygood]

Originally Posted by confusedasusual

Here are some things I found interesting:
New Orleans is where opera was first performed in the U.S., back in 1796.

Poker was invented in New Orleans in the 1700s.

When individual states had their own currency, the Louisiana dix (French for 10) was a favored currency for trade. In English they became known as “dixies” and the term “Dixieland” was coined.

Didn't know that about poker. Interesting.

The dixie notes, I believe, were issued by a private bank.

[Dport7674]

Cool thread

[hey teach]

Antoine's, is theoldest continously operating resturant in New Orleans, established in 1840.

[hey teach]

Canal Street was once the widest street in the world and was supposed to have a canal running through it, thus the name Canal Street.

[aab7855]

The term neutral ground, used to describe grassy medians of busy streets in New Orleans, originated because of the significance the Canal Street median had during the 1800's. On the Downtown side lived mostly French speaking inhabitants, and the Uptown side had newer arrivals from the other parts of the United States who spoke English. There was a good deal of tension between the two groups, so this median served as a buffer zone between the two sides. People from both sides, however, would socialize on the median.