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While absinthe was not first developed in New Orleans it owes much of its American popularity to the Old Absinthe House which opened its doors on Bourbon Street in 1807. (Bourbon whiskey did not come into being until the 1800’s.) That being said there are several drinks whose beginnings, or at least their popularity, trace back there. It was named for the French royal family that was in power when La Nouvelle Orleans was founded. The area now includes many more gay bars and nightclubs and the people are much more relaxed, spilling out into the streets (and sometimes out of their outfits) during carnival, and any other excuse to celebrate.Īlthough there are plenty of alcoholic libations to be found here Bourbon Street is actually older than the liquor associated with its title. Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote were frequent customers here, finding a rare place where they could feel comfortable with themselves. Lower Bourbon is home to the oldest continually operating gay bar, Lafitte in Exile, which was established in 1933. Here you will find the city’s thriving gay culture.
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Lower Bourbon begins at St Ann Street, a division sometimes called the Lavender Line. Upper Bourbon (think upriver, most New Orleans directions are based upon the Mississippi River) is by far the busiest section of the street and is the area most visitors frequent. (Stories here tend to turn, twist,Īnd meander about as much as the Mississippi River, while remaining just as enchanting.) The building is now a bar where tall tales can be swapped instead of stolen goods.īourbon Street can be separated into two relatively distinct sections. The company website claims this happened as early as the 1770s but this seems unlikely as Jean Lafitte was born in 1780.
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The building was owned for a period by the Lafitte brothers, Jean and Pierre, who used it as a base for their smuggling operations. Built in 1772 there may have been some ironwork done here early on but stories say that was mostly a cover. One of the oldest buildings on the street is Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. Bourbon Street was only a few blocks away and it slowly expanded, serving the clientele who wanted refreshment and entertainment either before or after they visited the brothels (or probably both.) When Storyville was closed in 1917 it sent even more business over to Bourbon and made it what it is today. This was a small area where prostitution was made legal, in an attempt to keep those activities in one place. In 1897 the Storyville District was formed. So how did a residential thoroughfare become this adult playground? The transformation can be credited to a desire to fence in our more sinful urges. There are also those “adult clubs” thrown in as a bit of lagniappe. What else is there?īourbon Street covers all of these desires with some of the finest restaurants in the area, more bars than a person could visit in a month without sacrificing their liver, and some of the original music clubs that brought jazz to the world. Their reply was that they were having a lovely time but felt all they had done was “eat, drink, and listen to music.” The congregation was a bit confused. A couple from out of town attended services at a French Quarter church one Sunday morning and were asked how they were enjoying their stay. Prior to the 1900’s the street was mostly residential but even in those early days it had another side.īourbon Street has been compared to an adult Disney World and its 13 blocks do contain almost everything one could want for a bit of grown up fun and relaxation. This was, of course, not always the case. Currently Bourbon Street is one of the city’s main tourist attractions and is pedestrian only. One thing that surprises visitors is that Bourbon Street is relatively short, stretching only 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue. The real Bourbon Street, however, is more complex than that. When most people think of Bourbon Street they picture a scene from Girls Gone Wild, with drunken revelers throwing beads to women baring their breasts, wet T shirt contests, and adjacent back alleys for more forbidden temptations. This iconic New Orleans thoroughfare has gone through many different phases since it was created, along with the city, in 1721. Rue Bourbon, Calle de Borbon, Bourbon Street. Ask anyone what they know about New Orleans and one of the first things most people will mention is Bourbon Street.