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Lafayette Square is the second-oldest public park in New Orleans, Louisiana (after Jackson Square), located in the present-day Central Business District. It is host to numerous music centered events.

= Lafayette Square (New Orleans) = Lafayette Square is the second oldest park in New Orleans, Louisiana originally known as Ville Gravier before Marquis de Lafayette visited in 1825. The square is 2.5 acres located across from Gallier Hall, in the central business district. The park was originally designed in 1788 by Charles Laveau Trudeau, who was a Surveyor General of Louisiana under the ruling of the Spanish government. Trudeau later became the mayor of New Orleans in 1812.

Lafayette Square is bordered by St.Charles Ave and Camp St. Facing the square, towards the John McDonogh Monument, is Gallier Hall, which previously was the City Hall. Adjacent to the hall, the north side of the square,

History
The land of Lafayette Square was originally supposed to create Faubourg Ste. Marie, New Orleans first suburb. The square was originally designed and opened in 1788, and became a pinnacle of New Orleans once the original city hall, Gallier Hall, was moved across the street from Lafayette Square. The Square was name change from Ville Gravier, to Lafayette Square did not occur until 1824.

Between 1834 and 1938, the park was mostly occupied by First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans. The church held the bell that General Benjamin Butler rung to siglnal curfew during the American Civil War.

During this period many monuments were erected or gifted in honor of historical figures. The Statue of Henry Clay was erected April 12, 1860. It originally stood in the center of Canal street until an ordinance was passed that relocated the statue to the center of the Lafayette square in September of 1900. The statue was created in honor of Henry Clay and his many connections to the city after the citizens raised money for its creation as a result to his death. The statue of John McDonogh was created in 1898. McDonogh was a merchant who left $704,440 for public schools in New Orleans. The money was used to expand the public school system. This statue originally stood in Lafayette Square. The statue of Benjamin Franklin was erected in 1926. It stands along the Camp Street side of the park. It was a gift to New Orleans from Henry Wadsworth Gustine. Inscribed on the statue are the words "Save While You are Young/ To Spend While You are Old/ One Penny Saved is Better/ Than Two Pennies Earned."

Over the years, Lafayette Square became a host to many events. These events, however, came to a quick halt in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina rained debris amongst the the square. Resulting this devastation, the Lafayette Square Conservancy was created to uphold the beauties of the park.

Monuments






Events

 * Wednesday at The Square
 * Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival

Surrounding Establishments

 * Gallier Hall
 * F. Edward Hebert Building
 * Starbucks
 * Ace hotel New Orleans
 * Drury Plaza Hotel New Orleans
 * Seaworthy
 * Desi Vega's Steakhouse
 * Intercontinental New Orleans