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Gayarre Place, A Forgotten Park on Esplanade
Royal Tours New Orleans • Aug 16, 2017
Gayarre Place, A Forgotten Park on Esplanade
On a little triangular spit of land bounded by Esplanade, Bayou Road, and North Tonti Street, just across the street from the Degas House, you will find Gayarre Place and this neo-classical tribute to Charles Gayarre. Who? Well, frankly, that was my reaction, too. So, off for a little research.
Charles Etienne Arthur Gayarre was born in 1805 to a Spanish and French Creole planter’s family in New Orleans. Notably, he was the grandson of Etienne de Bore´, who was was appointed in 1803 by the American Governor, William Claiborne, following the Louisiana Purchase to be the first mayor of New Orleans. But, Etienne de Bore´ is probably most known and appreciated for devising the process for creating granulated sugar from sugar cane. His innovation made sugar cane a very profitable commodity crop. Etienne de Bore´died in 1820 and was interred at St Louis Cemetery No 1.
Charles Gayarre was born on his grandfather’s plantation which was located on the Mississippi River near present-day Audobon Park and Tulane University. He moved to Philadelphia, PA to study law in 1826, and in 1830 he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. This was quickly followed by positions of Louisiana Attorney General in 1831, Presiding Judge of the City of New Orleans in 1833, and election as a Jackson Democrat to the United States Senate in 1834.
However, Gayarre resigned before taking his U.S. Senate seat citing poor health. For the next eight years, Gayarre traveled in Europe and collected historical material from the French and Spanish regarding the history of Louisiana. Many of the documents that he used were written by his ancestor, Esteban de Gayarre, a military officer who had arrived in Louisiana with the first Spanish Governor Antonio de Ulloa (see Spanish Rule of New Orleans).
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Unfortunately, the plaque inlaid at Gayarre Place gives the visitor no clue regarding the purpose of the park or the history of its namesake. Further, the city has allowed the monument and park to become somewhat overgrown due to disregard.
To learn more about the history of New Orleans and the French Quarter, join Royal Tours New Orleans
for our highly regarded French Quarter History Tour. This private tour will take you and your friends or family on a unique tour of the French Quarter where you will learn about the exciting history of our unique city and the colorful characters of its early years. Call us at 504-507-8333 or email us
to book your private tour.
N orma Wallace, a name that evokes intrigue and fascination, was a prominent figure in New Orleans during the early and mid-20th century. As a powerful and resourceful madam, she operated a network of brothels that thrived despite the constant threat of law enforcement. Beginning in 1920, she would operate brothels for the next 45 years, a span that has not been beaten in the history of New Orleans.
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