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.
A walk down St. Charles takes you on a journey through the city's vibrant history, the grand boulevard lined with stately mansions, picturesque parks, and historic places of worship. Noted families of New Orleans once lived on this beautiful street, constructing edifices that reflected their influence and legacy. A few houses worth stopping at include The Diocesan House, The Elms Mansion, The Latter Library, and the Wedding Cake House. Do visit the Columns Hotel, a true New Orleans landmark that has stood here since 1883! Stroll around Audubon Park with its butterfly garden and insectarium or make a stop to see two of the city's universities, Tulane and Loyola, here.
