Garden District New Orleans
Developed in the latter half of the 19th century, the Garden District embodies the genteel nature and quiet discipline of the Southern aristocracy of years gone by. Like the French Quarter, the Garden is a National Historic District; but while the Quarter shows evidence of the subsequent layers of its history, the Garden District feels as though it has been unchanged over the years.

This is one of the best-preserved collections of historic mansions in the United States. Not as old as the French Quarter, the Garden District was a popular area for the "new money" that arrived as wealthy Americans moved to New Orleans after the Louisiana Purchase. Not wanting to settle in the French Quarter with the French Creole who lived there, they built magnificent mansions here, and the Garden District was born.

The National Park Service offers free tours of the area, but many visitors prefer to rent a bicycle and explore the neighborhood on their own.