St Vincent's Guest House
New Orleans
New Orleans will lure you to step outside your normal life, slow down, go a little crazy. Most anything is allowed in New Orleans, one reason it draws so many artists and musicians. The keys to the unique character of the city lie in its history. Founded by the French, who had to rely in convicts and prostitutes and adventurers as colonists, New Orleans always had an attitude of "Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler" - let the good times roll! These Creole peoples kept this spirit and gallic culture alive here even through a Spanish administration and the sale of Louisiana to the United States in 1803. You will see this in the French Quarter and in museums such as Gallier, Herman Grima and 1850 House in the Pontalba Apartments on Jackson Square and on the plantations such as Laura and San Francisco. The Americans brought energy and money into the area and built many fabulous mansions to showcase the wealth created in sugar and cotton. You will want to see the Garden District and uptown on the street car and by foot to appreciate the 19th century American contribution. Of course America has seen this historic city into the modern age and you will enjoy bustling, fashionable Magazine Street, the Museum of Modern Art, World War II Museum, the parks and universites and the vibrant restaurant scene here.
St. Vincent's
St. Vincent's was built in 1861 as an orphanage. It was founded by the Daughters of Charity order of nuns, however much of the funding was provided by Margaret Haughery. Margaret was an extraordinary person - an illiterate, Irish immigrant who, from nothing, built a thriving bakery business and became New Orleans foremost philanthropist. She lost her own child and husband to yellow fever here. Mosquito born diseases were endemic in New Orleans and took thousands every summer. Orphanages were much needed in this environment and St. Vincent's, and St. Elizabeths', formerly owned by Ann Rice, harbored orphans and later unwed mothers and children in the 1970s. The building languished until rescued by Peter Schreiber and Sally Leonard in 1994. Completely remodelled, it became the unique Guest House you will enjoy today. We suffered no flooding from Hurricane Katrina and this historic and beautiful building remains as Margaret's great gift to New Orleans.
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1507 Magazine St, New Orleans, La 70130 +1(504)302 9606