User:Raelanes/Esplanade Avenue

Esplanade (ˈespləˌnād) Avenue is a two-way street in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is roughly 5 miles long and home to many notable places such as the St. Louis Cemetery, New Orleans Jazz Museum, and Fortier Park. Many schools and historic homes line the sides of Esplanade leading into a cross-section of roads that lead up to City Park. It begins at the Mississippi River on the eastern most front and ends on the Bayou St. John in the west. While not a direct part of it, the eastern end of Esplanade Avenue lines the northern part of the French Market.

History
Esplanade Avenue was originally an important Native American travel route. Its high elevation compared to the rest of the city aided Natives in traversing the land. During the early 18th century, it became a major trade route since it connected Bayou. St, John and the Mississippi River. The city of New Orleans was given the right to the now Esplanade Avenue in 1807. The name comes from a Spanish esplanade. Esplanade was built on plantation land during the 1820s and 1830s and was a major site for slave trading pens. There is now a marker where these former slave pens used to stand. It became more of a residential area during the early 19th century.

Confederacy
Formerly being a part of the Confederate States of America, New Orleans and its streets were home to many confederate buildings and statues. Until 2017, The statue of the Civil War general, P. G. T. Beauregard, was a major statue located near City Park; however, it was removed due to the city of New Orleans's act to remove confederate monuments.

Elevation/Sea Level
There are varying elevations in sea level on Esplanade. Ranging anywhere from 7 feet towards Bayou St. John to 24 feet by the Mississippi River.

Zoning Districts
Esplanade is located in multiple zoning districts: OS-R, HU-RM2, OS-N, HU-MU, HU-RD1, HU-B1A, HMR-2, HMC-2, VCR-2. and VCC-1.

Neighborhoods/Planning Districts
Esplanade Avenue is located in Esplanade Ridge and Marigny The southern edge of the street lines the French Quarter and Tremé.Located in three different planning districts: planning district 1, 4, and 7. In planning district 1 Esplanade is only a part of the French Quarter. In planning district 4, it is a part of the Fairgrounds, Seventh Ward, Bayou St. John, and Treme/ Lafitte. Marginy is the only district that is a part of Esplanade Avenue in planning district 7.

Notable Locations


[[File:Degas House Esplanade Avenue New Orleans 2003.jpg|thumb|The Edgar Degas House

2306 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA ]]

St. Louis Cemetery No. 3
The land the St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 was built on was the land granted to the now city of New Orleans in the 1708 French land concessions. The land was purchased by the the St. Louis Cathedral in 1849. Construction took place during the mid 1800s after the New Orleans City Council allowed for the St. Louis Cathedral to create a new cemetery. It was expanded in April of 1864. Around that time, there were 2,580 tomb building sites and roughly 5,000 wall vaults. The newest additions, St. Michael the Archangel Mausoleum and Cremation Garde, were added in 2020

Old U.S. Mint
The Old U.S. Mint is home to the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

The Edgar Degas House
The former home of Edgar Degas. Built in 1852, it was home to Edgar Degas, a French impressionist, during the period of time where he created his famous art works. The Degas House is now a Bed and Breakfast.

Free People of Color Museum
Le Musée de f.p.c or in English, the Free People of Color Museum, was first part of the plantation of Domingo Fleitas. It was acquired by Benjamin Rodriguez, cousin of Edgar Degas, in the 1850's and constructed by Joseph Jouet in 1859. The current owners, Beverly Stanton McKenna and Dwight McKenna, are the first people of color to own it.

Fortier Park
Alcée Fortier Park is a 0.39-acre public park founded in 1926. It was name after Alcée Fortier; a Creole philosopher who the property originally belonged to.

Melrose Mansion
A historic mansion that was completed in 1885; it is now a hotel.

Rathbone Mansion
It was built in 1846 by Adolph Gauche for Belle Elizabeth Aubert; it is now a hotel. The mansion at 1244 Esplanade Avenue was home to one of the first women of color to own her own property. The mansion at 1227 Esplanade Avenue was built in 1850 and was inspired by Greek architecture.

Jean Lafitte House
The Jean Lafitte House is a modern tourist attraction and bed and breakfast located on Esplanade Avenue known for having historic ghost stories.

Housing
The average cost of house rent in the the neighborhoods that make up Esplanade Avenue.

Categories
Category:Streets in New Orleans Category:New Orleans