New Orleans pulses with a rhythm found nowhere else in America, blending French, Spanish, and African influences into a vibrant cultural gumbo. Known as the birthplace of jazz, the city thrives on music that spills out from every corner of the French Quarter. Beyond the famous Mardi Gras beads, it holds deep secrets involving voodoo queens, pirate legends, and architectural marvels built to withstand the water. Furthermore, the local laws and culinary inventions make it a unique playground for history buffs and foodies alike. Prepare to let the good times roll in the Big Easy.
New Orleans
New Orleans stands as the only city in the US where you can legally drink alcohol on the street in a “go-cup.” While most American cities ban open containers, New Orleans allows you to take your drink to go, as long as it is in a plastic cup. Consequently, the party never has to stop at the door of the bar.
A local dentist invented dental floss right in New Orleans. Levi Parmly introduced the idea of cleaning between teeth with a silk thread in 1815. Thus, this daily hygiene habit has its roots in the same city famous for sugary beignets.
The city sits roughly six feet below sea level on average. Because of its bowl-like geography, a complex system of levees and pumps keeps the water out. Therefore, residents bury the dead in above-ground tombs to prevent them from rising with the water table.
Mardi Gras actually started in Mobile, Alabama, not New Orleans. French explorers celebrated the first American Mardi Gras in 1703 in Mobile before the tradition moved to New Orleans. However, the Crescent City perfected the massive parades and krewes we know today.
Legend says Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen, grants wishes from her grave. Visitors flock to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to leave offerings and mark three X’s on her tomb. Many believe she still watches over the city and protects her followers from the afterlife.
Builders constructed the first opera house in America in the French Quarter. New Orleans hosted the first documented opera performance in the United States in 1796. This early embrace of high culture cemented the city’s reputation as a center for the arts.
Historians widely recognize New Orleans as the birthplace of poker. Early 19th-century French settlers played a bluffing game called “Poque,” which evolved into the modern card game on the riverboats. Consequently, the Mississippi River became the main artery for spreading gambling across the country.
City laws forbid riding a bicycle with only one hand on the handlebars. City ordinances strictly require cyclists to keep both hands on the bike for safety. Interestingly, this remains one of many quirky old laws still on the books.
The Superdome stands as the largest fixed-dome structure in the world. This massive stadium covers 13 acres and symbolizes the city’s resilience. It famously served as a shelter of last resort during Hurricane Katrina.
Residents celebrate a “second line” parade for any occasion, even funerals. These impromptu brass band processions encourage bystanders to join in and dance down the street. Thus, locals treat even death as a celebration of life rather than a somber ending.
The mafia established itself in New Orleans before New York or Chicago. The first recorded mafia family in the United States started operating in the city in the late 19th century. They controlled the docks and fruit trade long before Al Capone rose to power.
A dentist and a confectioner invented cotton candy here. Originally called “Fairy Floss,” this sugary treat debuted at the 1904 World’s Fair. Ironically, a man dedicated to fixing teeth helped create one of the worst candies for dental health.
The Sazerac ranks officially as the oldest cocktail in America. Apothecary Antoine Peychaud created the drink in the 1830s using his secret family bitters. Today, it remains the official cocktail of the city and a staple of local bars.
Lake Pontchartrain is not actually a lake but an estuary. It connects directly to the Gulf of Mexico and contains brackish water rather than fresh water. Spanning 40 miles wide, it forms the northern border of the city’s geography.
Finally, the pirate Jean Lafitte became a hero of the Battle of New Orleans. He and his band of smugglers helped General Andrew Jackson defeat the British in 1815. Without their cannons and local knowledge of the swamps, the city might have fallen to the enemy.
