Architecture of New Orleans Garden District

I recently visited New Orleans, or “Nawlins”, for the first time to celebrate Mardi Gras. While I was there, I took a guided walking tour of the Garden District, which is one of New Orleans’ most popular and historic neighborhoods. 

The Garden District features an array of nineteenth century Victorian style, shotgun homes that line the streets.  Take the walking tour and find the homes of Hollywood’s A-List! Currently, Sandra Bullock and John Goodman reside in this area. Nicolas Cage and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, when they were still married, previously owned homes in the Garden District too!

If you continue to walk the Garden District, you will also find some famous movie set homes! Have you seen the 2008 Blockbuster “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”? The home of Benjamin Button used in the film can be found on Coliseum Street!

For all of the American Horror Story fans, keep walking, and you’ll also happen upon Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies, the “Witch” mansion used in Season 3, American Horror Story: Coven. 

A Look in the Garden District:

Stop by the Garden District and take a stroll. If you love unique, one-of-a-kind architecture and beautiful greenery that surrounds, you’ll love the view here! Before you head to the French Quarter for beignets and a hurricane, take a stroll in the Garden District.

1. Joseph Merrick Jones House

Since 2005, the current resident of the home is the actor John Goodman. Located on Coliseum Street, the Garden District Mansion was originally built in 1850 for lawyer Joseph Merrick Jones.

2. 1304 Second St. at Chestnut

3. Carroll-Crawford House

The Carroll-Crawford house was completed in 1869 by bricklayer Samuel Jamison who was determined to build houses on his own. The interior designs of the home capture Jamisons’ signature plaster work. This three-story Italianate house was built for Virginia cotton merchant, Joseph Carroll.

It is also noted that American writer, Mark Twain, often attended the huge parties the original owner Joseph Carroll would throw inside.

4. Mayfair Manor

The Mayfair Manor house was built in 1857 by merchant Albert Hamilton Brevard.

5. Morris-Israel House

This pink home was bricklayer Samuel Jamison’s second home project completed in 1869. Locals also claim that this home is haunted and ghosts are drawn to the home. Spooky.

6. Pritchard House

7. Archie Manning’s House

Since 1982, this has been the home of former New Orleans Saints NFL Quarterback, Archie Manning. Yes, the parents of Eli & Peyton Manning, also Pro NFL players.

8. The “Horse” House

9. Toby’s Corner at First and Prytania

This home is believed to be the Garden District’s oldest house! The home was built in 1838 for Thomas Toby, a businessman from Philadelphia. The architecture style reflects that of the West Indies plantation homes that were built in New Orleans around this time.

10. Bradish Johnson House

The mansion was built in 1872 for Bradish Johnson, who had obtained his wealth from his family’s sugar cane plantations.  This home is a Reconstruction-era architecture.

Presently, the Bradish Johnson property is the private Louise S. McGehee School for girls.

11. French Consul’s Home

This Garden District home has been occupied by the French since the mid 1950s.

12. Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel

This home was built in the mid-1800s by merchant Henry Lonsdale and is deemed one of New Orleans most iconic homes. The home is a Greek Revival-style mansion. In 1925, the Redemptorist Fathers bought the home and turned it into a Catholic Chapel.

From 2005 to 2009, Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage occupied the home. Unfortunately, in 2009, Cage lost the home to a foreclosure. The property is
currently part of the Saint George Episcopal School in New Orleans.

13. Prytania Street

One of New Orleans homes with the Italianate Architectures style. Built in 1853 by English cotton merchant, Thomas Gilmour.

14. Briggs-Staub House

The Briggs-Staub house is a Gothic Cottage built in 1849.

15. “Cornstalk Fence” House

The “Cornstalk Fence” House (Colonel Short’s Villa) built in 1859.

16.“Benjamin Button” House

Built in 1832. In the movie, the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt, this served as the main house in the 2008 film.

17. The Koch-Mays House

Creole-style from 1878. This is also currently the home of Sandra Bullock since 2009!

18. Walter Robinson House

Wealthy Virginia banker, Walter Robinson, built this mansion from 1857-1867. Robinson obtained his wealth selling tobacco and cotton. The interior of the home feature 15 foot high ceilings as well as indoor plumbing, making this is one of the first homes in New Orleans to have both.

19. Musson-Bell House

The Garden District was originally largely American, and in 1850, Michael Musson, a wealthy tobacco grower, was one of the first Creoles to build a mansion here.

More Photography From the Garden District Walking Tour

All photos are mine and were taken by me.

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