Voices from the Trail
with story teller Louis Gossett, Jr.
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The French Market is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to New Orleans, offering a wide array of imported clothing, jewelry, and wares along with homegrown music, vegetables, and spices. As far back as the early 1700s, enslaved blacks, Free People of Color, Native Americans, and whites all exchanged wares at this location. Map it
The French Market has evolved greatly over the years. One of the most remarkable aspects of the market has always been its architectural beauty, and the story of the man behind it.
New Orleans' festival atmosphere is easy to find at the French Market, home to live music, clothing, food, and plenty of colorful souvenirs.
In the book Creole, Mary Gehman explains, "[A] fairly impressive number of New Orleans free men of color did pursue careers that were almost unheard of for blacks in other parts of the country. . . . Joseph Abeilard was a quite respected [architect] in antebellum Louisiana. The Bazaar section of the French Market in New Orleans was his design."
The French Market
- Address: 1008 N. Peters St., New Orleans, LA 70116
- Phone: 504-522-2621
- Email: info@frenchmarket.org
- Website: http://www.frenchmarket.org
This open-air trading center was designed by architect Joseph Abeilard, a free man of color. Enslaved black people, free people of color, Native Americans and whites all exchanged wares at this location, dating back to the early 1700s. The French Market is still open to shoppers and is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to New Orleans.
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There is so much to see and do in Louisiana. Here are a few ideas to get you started.