| What makes it historical? |
Originally called the Plaza de Armas under Spanish rule (1782-1803), this square was renamed for Andrew Jackson in 1851 to honor his leadership during the Battle of New Orleans! During this fight, Jackson’s troops repelled much larger British forces with the help of pirate, Jean Lafitte, so on February 9, 1856, a statue of General Jackson by Clark Mills was unveiled in this square where he reviewed his troops! This statue is so cleverly designed that it supports 20,000 pounds on two skinny horse legs!
Nowadays, this is a prime spot to buy local art, watch a street performance, or catch one of the famous mule carts, but you’ll also notice that it’s flanked on one side by the Pontalba Apartment Buildings, the oldest apartments in the United States, and on the other side by the Cathedral of Saint Louis, the oldest cathedral in the United States! |
