NOLA History Guy
The BlogElite Cavalry #6 – Chausseurs a Cheval Trumpeters
The Chasseur Trumpeters communicated orders down the chain of command. Chasseur Trumpeters on parade Plate #6 of Rousselot's Elite Cavalry book presents two trumpeters of the Chasseurs a Cheval of Bonaparte's Imperial Guard. Both wear tenue de parade, full dress for...
Galvez in Louisiana – the 1779 Hurricane
The 1779 Hurricane created major complications for the Spanish campaign against the British. How Galvez dealt with the 1779 Hurricane Bernardo de Galvez, First Count of Galvez, assumed the Spanish Governorship of Louisiana on 1-January-1778. He followed orders from...
Galvez in Louisiana – the British 16th Foot
The British 16th Foot fought the Spanish at Fort New Richmond. The Battle of Baton Rouge and the British 16th Foot The colors of the 16th Regiment of Foot of the British Army, as they were at the Battle of Baton Rouge, 1779. Bernardo de Galvez, Spanish Governor of...
Elite Cavalry #2 – Chasseurs a Cheval on parade
Rousselot gives us Chasseurs on parade in Paris. Chasseurs a Cheval on parade Two officers of Napoleon's guard Chasseurs a Chavel, his personal light cavalry guard regiment, on parade. They wear grande tenue de service, their full-dress service uniform. This regiment...
The Forgotten Front – Drummers
The forces fighting on the Gulf Coast used drummers to pass along orders. Drummers on the Forgotten Front All the forces fighting in the American Revolution communicated orders from commanders to their troops in battle via drums. Above is the uniform of a drummer of...
Podcast 65 – Boyd Cruise
We feature the work of Boyd Cruise, Artist, Teacher, Curator, in Podcast 65. Podcast 65 - Boyd Cruise Alvik Boyd Cruise (1908-1988) was an artist, art teacher, and the first director and curator of the Historic New Orleans Collection. We presented a number of his...
From The Streetcar for 10-September-2026 – The Butcher’s Market
Third Thursdays at the Jefferson Parish Library! In This Issue A Little History... - Our feature story Notes from the Lakefront - Updates Ad of the Week - advertising blasts from the past! How you can help NOLA History Guy - Things you can do right now! NOLA Six Word...
Elite Cavalry #11 – Chasseurs a Cheval at the depot
Continuing our Napoleonic Elite Cavalry series is of four Guard Chasseurs a Cheval at the depot. Napoleon's Elite Cavalry - Chasseurs a Cheval at the depot Another painting of Napoleon's Elite Cavalry by Lucien Rousselot. We see Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard, at...
The First Count of Gálvez
Portrait of Bernado, First Count of Gálvez Portrait of the First Count of Gálvez The equestrian portrait of Bernardo de Gálvez, Viceroy of New Spain, painted by Fray Pablo de Jesús y Jerónimo in 1796 CE. Now housed at the National Museum of History in Mexico City....
Podcast 64 – Battle of New Orleans – On the West Bank
The Battle of New Orleans had an important West Bank component. New Orleans marks the "Glorious Eighth of January" of 1815 with ceremonies at the Chalmette National Battlefield, but the story of what happened on the West Bank is often ignored. Some background: In...
From The Streetcar for 3-September-2026
Third Thursdays at the Jefferson Parish Library! In This Issue A Little History... - Our feature story Notes from the Lakefront - Updates Ad of the Week - advertising blasts from the past! How you can help NOLA History Guy - Things you can do right now! NOLA Six Word...
Elite Cavalry #9 – Chasseurs a Cheval on a Sunday
The first in our Napoleonic Elite Cavalry series is of three Guard Chasseurs a Cheval. Napoleon's Elite Cavalry - Chasseurs a Cheval on a Sunday Three Chasseur à Cheval de la Garde Imperiale, in Sunday "walking out" dress, Paris, between 1804 and 1814. They walk past...
Galvez Cabildo Exhibit – Hero of the American Revolution
Bernardo de Galvez Cabildo exhibit takes guests through his governorship of Louisiana. Galvez Cabildo exhibit Bernardo Vicente de Gálvez y Madrid, his wife, and their daughter, greet guests at the Cabildo at the entrance of the exhibit, Gálvez and Louisiana in the...
Lucien Rousselot Paintings of Napoleon’s Elite Cavalry
These wonderful paintings by Lucien Rousselot are great #writingprompts. Napoleonic paintings by Lucien Rousselot Beginning next month, we're presenting the art of Lucien Rousselot. He was a brilliant artist and "uniformologist." While he painted the French Army...
NOLA History Guy Substack and Patreon
We're making changes to NOLA History Guy Substack and Patreon Changes to our Substack and Patreon We've been sharing NOLA History Guy content to other platforms for some time. Going on Patreon was a fun exercise in WordPress configuration, because there's a plugin...
From The Streetcar for 27-August-2026
Third Thursdays at the Jefferson Parish Library! In This Issue A Little History... - Our feature story Notes from the Lakefront - Updates Ad of the Week - advertising blasts from the past! How you can help NOLA History Guy - Things you can do right now! NOLA Six Word...
Elliot’s Pocket Revolver #writingprompts
Today's rabbit hole is an ad for a "Elliot's Pocket Revolver." Elliot's Pocket Revolver Ad for "Elliot's Pocket Revolver" in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 17-May-1862. This pistol also bore the name, Remington Zig-Zag Derringer. Remington manufactured this...
From The Streetcar for 13-August-2026
Next Thursday at the Jefferson Parish Library! In This Issue A Little History... - Our feature story Notes from the Lakefront - Updates Ad of the Week - advertising blasts from the past! How you can help NOLA History Guy - Things you can do right now! NOLA Six Word...
BOSH Purple Heart Update
A Memorial Day update on a Purple Heart we found in the Brother Martin High School/BOSH archives. BOSH Purple Heart Update As part of my work in the archives at Brother Martin High School, I came across a Purple Heart decoration in its presentation box. Inside the box...
Podcast 63 – The Allard Plantation
Podcast 63 presents the Allard Plantation, now New Orleans City Park. The Allard Plantation The land along Bayou St. John, from Lake Pontchartrain to the "Great Portage" attracted members of Bienville's exploration party from the first trips they made to what would be...
Podcast 62 – Battle of New Orleans (for Walking Tour Guides)
This is the podcast version of the lecture I presented on the Battle to the Friends of the Cabildo WTG 2026. Podcast 62 - Battle of New Orleans (for Walking Tour Guides) I had the pleasure of presenting to the Friends of the Cabildo's Walking Tour Guide class of 2026...
Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday in New Orleans
Good Friday is still a day off for many businesses in New Orleans. Like many local traditions, those surrounding Holy Week fade. Our secular world pushes out religious traditions. Grandmothers and great-grandmothers focused on religion so much more. They took Holy...
Siege of Fort St. Phillip, 9-January-1815
Fort St. Philip protected New Orleans from attack via the Mississippi River. Fort St. Philip during the Battle of New Orleans By 9am on January 8, 1815, the Battle of New Orleans was all but over. With Lt. General Pakenham and Maj. General Gibbs dead, Maj. General...
Become a Friends of the Cabildo Walking Tour Guide!
We'd love for you to consider becoming a FOC Walking Tour Guide. (cross-posted to New Orleans Then And Now) Friends of the Cabildo Walking Tour Guide Class 2026 Apply for the class here! The Friends of the Cabildo (FOC) operate one of the best French Quarter Walking...
Cutting Out Lake Borgne
Cutting out Lake Borgne - American defense delayed the British. Editor's note: this article, originally posted in 2022, has been updated, as we develop a resource packet on the Battle of New Orleans. Cutting out Lake Borgne "British and American Gunboats in Action on...
The UCMJ and Crusader NJROTC 1973
We learned a lot from Mr. Adams in Crusader NJROTC 1973. REMINDER: NOLA HISTORY GUY Speaking at Learning Before Lunch at UNO, Thursday 11-December. Crusader NJROTC 1973 Photo of the current Brother Martin Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) Color...
Learning Before Lunch speaking engagement Thursday
THANK YOU for coming out to my talk with the Learning Before Lunch group! As I mentioned during the talk, I've given this presentation before, so it's available as a NOLA History Guy Podcast. Enjoy!...
NOPSI Pitch for Canal Street Buses
New Orleans Public Service, Inc. (NOPSI) began the push to discontinue the Canal Streetcar in 1960. Canal Street buses This 1959 photo of Canal Street confused me for a moment. My friend Keith Evans posted it in his Facebook group, "N.O.L.A. - New Orleans Long Ago,"...
New Orleans 1814
What was New Orleans 1814 like when Jackson came to town? New Orleans 1814 "Plan of the City and Suburbs of New Orleans from an actual Survey made in 1815." Originally published in 1817 by Charles del Vecchio and Pierre Maspero. We begin our discussion of the Battle...
Battle of New Orleans Re-org
As we close out November, it's time for a Battle of New Orleans re-org. Battle of New Orleans re-org Your humble NOLA History Guy received an invitation to speak to a group on the history of the Battle of New Orleans next March. While an undergraduate at University of...
Creole Townhouses and the Porte-cochère
The Porte-cochère is a common architectural feature in the French Quarter. Porte-cochère homes Plan book for a "store-house" on Royal Street, between Iberville and Canal Streets. From A Pattern Book of New Orleans Architecture: Plan book 95, folio 26, New Orleans...
Krauss Department Store, 1924
This 1924 photo of Krauss Department Store shows the original 1903 storefront. Krauss Department Store, 1924 Franck Studios photo (now in the public domain) of Krauss Department Store, 1201 Canal Street. The date is 1924, and that's easily seen because of the poor...
Docent-led tours at The Cabildo
It's fun to show groups around the Cabildo and tell stories. Cabildo Docent Tours It's a busy week for showing off the Cabildo. I'm scheduled to lead three tours of the museum. So, I thought I'd turn my prep for those tours into a blog post. Booking a tour While...
Jean Lafitte Blacksmith House 1960s
The house at Bourbon and St. Philip Streets is part of the Jean Lafitte legend. Jean Lafitte Blacksmith House via THNOC, this 1960s rendering by "Nick, D." of the Jean Lafitte Blacksmith House offers a magical view of a popular Vieux Carré bar. While there is no...
Louisiana governors and LSU football
Governor Jeff Landry isn't the first governor to try to influence LSU football. Louisiana governors and LSU football Louisiana State University is parting ways with its football coach, Brian Kelly. The team is, for all intents and purposes, out of the running for a...
Podcast 61 – When the French Quarter Was Sicilian
Podcast version of our Third Thursday Sicilian talk. Podcast 61 - When the French Quarter was Sicilian Thanks to everyone who came out last Thursday night for our fourth talk in our "Third Thursday Lecture Series." This talk is essentially a lecture, now podcast,...
Brother Ivy LeBlanc SC
Memories of my sophomore Religion teacher, Brother Ivy Leblanc, SC. Brother Ivy Leblanc, SC I was devastated when I received an email last week, asking for prayers for Brother Ivy. The school shared that Brother was not doing well, and his doctors decided on...
The Merieult House 533 Rue Royale
Old Vieux Carré like Merieult House live on under the stewardship of nonprofits. The Merieult House, 533 Rue Royale Painting by Jim Blanchard. THNOC record: "View of the façade of the Merieult House, now the Historic New Orleans Collection. Painted between January 1...
Podcast P10 – Canal Street 1935 Unpack
The more Canal Street 1935 evolved, the more it remained iconic. Canal Street 1935 Franck Studios of Canal Street at St. Charles Avenue, 1935. The photographer stands in the neutral ground, on the river side of the outside streetcar track. The fiw on the left is of...
In-ground burials in New Orleans
Many families bury their loved ones in-ground. It's more than just "the water table." For the most part, we bury our dead above ground in New Orleans. The conventional wisdom on this practice is, "the water table is too high." As is the case with many "conventional"...
Podcast P09 – Pan American on the Back Belt
After 1954, L&N passenger trains like the Pan American ran on the Back Belt to UPT. L&N Pan American 1970 Listen to the podcast here. This 1970 photo shows the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Pan American passenger train heading to Union Passenger Terminal...
French Market 1925
New Orleans French Market 1925 underwent a significant re-design. French Market 1925 Architectural rendering of the "new" French Market 1925. While the market buildings had undergone minor, quick-fix, repairs since the 1880s, the market required a major facelift by...
Federico Macaroni, 1000 Chartres
Sicilian companies like Federico Macaroni created home-grown pasta products. Federico Macaroni on Chartres Street Franck Studios photo of the Federico Macaroni manufacturing plant, 1000 Chartres Street, corner St. Philip. The Federicos were one of several Sicilian...
“The Royal Blue Line”
Recording and PDF of the talk, "The Royal Blue Line" by Edward. 'The Royal Blue Line" on Napoleon Avenue Thanks to everyone who came out Tuesday to hear the talk on the Napoleon Streetcar at the Jefferson Parish Library's East Bank Regional Branch. PDF of the...
Harmony Ice Cream
Harmony Ice Cream was popular before World War II. They screamed for Harmony Ice Cream! Ice Cream! Harmony Ice Cream truck, parked on S. Carrollton Avenue, in the 1940s. Located in Central City, Harmony competed with Cloverland Dairy, which was located on S....
Cotton Wharf, 1914
Scenes like this cotton wharf 1914 photo explain New Orleans. Cotton Wharf, 1914 Photo from a pamphlet, "New Orleans Old and New," published by the Convention and Tourist Bureau of the New Orleans Association of Commerce, 1914. Wm. Allen was the group's manager. This...
Royal Street and St. Anthony’s Alley
What we call "Pirates Alley" was "St. Anthony's Alley" in 1916. St. Anthony's Alley in 1915 pen drawing, "Corner of the yard of the St. Louis Cathedral, where St. Anthony's Alley meets Royal Street," from Pen Drawings of Old New Orleans, by Frank G. Churchill, 1915....
Podcast P07 – Morning Call Postcard
This Morning Call postcard from the 1940s brings back memories. Morning Call Postcard Color postcard of the Morning Call Coffee Stand, in its original French Market location. The owners of Morning Call dispute the claim that Cafe du Monde is the first French Market...
Podcast P06 – Gentilly Streetcar Unpack
The Gentilly streetcar connected Franklin Avenue with downtown. Gentilly Streetcar Unpack NOPSI 884, operating on the Gentilly line, makes its one-block appearance on Canal Street as it turns for the outbound run on the Gentilly line. The line provided street rail...
Luis de Unzaga y Amézaga – Governor on the Fourth of July
The governor of Louisiana on July 4, 1776 was Luis de Unzaga y Amézaga, from Spain. Luis de Unzaga y Amézaga At the time John Hancock signed his name large enough that George III of the United Kingdom knew who signed first, New Orleans operated under the control of...
Edward’s Amazon Author Page
You’ll find all of his books for sale here.
Shop Edward’s bookstore
Edward’s books are available at bookstores everywhere, as well as Amazon, Kobo, B&N, and other online booksellers.
For signed copies of Edward’s books, visit his online bookshop:
Recent Comments