Free Historic Garden District New Orleans Tour
New Orleans’ Garden District is a delightful neighborhood characterized by beautiful antebellum homes and lush gardens. It’s also been home to a few eccentrics, scandalous souls, and some of the city’s most rich and famous residents. On this walking tour, you’ll learn about the unique architecture of this district. Starting outside the Rink Shopping Center, you’ll make your way down the neighborhood’s tree lined streets, before finishing your walk outside of the world famous Commander’s Palace. Along with hearing about the city’s architecture, you’ll also hear about some of the area’s famous former residents. I’ll point out the Italianate mansion once owned by novelist Ann Rice and later by actor Nicolas Cage. But this tour isn’t all mansions and megastars. I’ll also tell you about the city’s role in slavery, share its place in the Civil War, and reveal the reason so many stunning buildings survived the destruction of the war.
This unique part of the city is made easily accessible from the French Quarter by use of the famous St Charles Street car as well as an array of other services. A stroll through The Garden District is a must for everyone and anyone who visits New Orleans. To find our current times for our Free “pay what you feel like” walking tour of the Garden District click on Book a tour.
You can also check out our Free Self-Guided walking tour of the Garden District in New Orleans.
We are also excited to announce our partnership with Voicemap. We now offer a GPS enabled audio version of the this tour
Lafayette Cemetery is closed for renovations.
Garden District Walking Tours
What is the Garden District?
In 1803 Thomas Jefferson signed the Louisiana Purchase which opened up New Orleans to a flood of Americans set on making a fortune. Culture clashes between Creoles and the Newly arrived Americans split the city in two, with Canal Street as it’s neutral ground between the differing populations. Flush with cash from their business successes the second generation of Americans, in the decades before the Civil War, built their own city, Lafayette, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown complete with its own cemetery, Lafayette Cemetery.
Beautiful Iron Fence marks the entrance to Lafayette Cemetery
Learn the Secrets of the Garden District
What was once Lafayette, a planned community for the wealthy,is now the Garden District. It is a delightful neighborhood to tour. Not just for the beautiful antebellum homes and lush gardens, but for what you’ll learn about the population, including a few eccentrics and scandalous souls, both now and in the past. Including some of New Orleans most rich and famous residents
On this Garden District Tour you will see:
• Buckner Mansion, the largest house built before the Civil War, made famous by its appearance in the TV show American Horror Story
• New Orleans Opera Guild Home, a beautiful example of an 1850 Greek Revival Double Gallery which made an appearance in the Oscar-winning film Django Unchained
• The breathtaking Swiss Chalet style house owned by Sandra Bullock
• Pritchard-Pigot House, which resembles a frat house
• The Seven Sisters houses, which weren’t built by a father wanting his seven daughters to live side-by-side, as some might have you believe
• Montgomery-Hero House, constructed for the president of the Crescent City Railroad, Archibald Montgomery
• Walter Grinnan Robinson House, the first home to feature indoor plumbing, decades before New Orleans sewage system, where a rain collection tank was installed on the roof
Lafayette Cemetery is closed for renovations.
Lafayette #1 Cemetery closed
A great way to learn about how New Orleanians lived (and died) is by visiting our cemeteries. unfortunately Lafayette Cemetery is closed for renovations
We offer a St Louis Cemetery #3, both as a self-guided tour and as a FREE guided tour
Garden District Walking Tours
To find out when Nola Tour Guy presents our Historic Free Garden District walking tour click on Book Now!
How can we offer these tours for free?!? We are so sure you’ll love this tour that you’ll gladly tip your guide $15-$25 a person.
Didn’t find a time that works for you? Check out our Free Self Guided Walking Tour of the Garden District or Book a Private tour.
We offer private tours of the Garden District in New Orleans at very reasonable rates and our very flexible, just let us know!
Free Garden District Walking Tour Schedule
Where the tour meets
The Tour meets at 1500 Washington on the sidewalk near the corner of Prytaina and Washington. Your guide will have an umbrella that says “Tour Meet Here” While you are welcome to just show up but we recommend booking online to guarantee your spot on the tour. space on the tour is limited. Book online via Fairharbor to ensure tour is being conducted
What you will see on this tour:
The Garden District is one of the largest collections of surviving 19th century mansions in the USA, an architectural treasure!
Included on the tour is the Buckner Mansion, the largest home built before the Civil War and featured in American Horror Story
Two of three homes Anne Rice owned in New Orleans, included her main residence and where she wrote the Witching Hour Trilogy.
Homes of celebrities such as Sandra Bullock and John Goodman.
After the tour you will have a deeper understanding of why the Garden District is so important to the history of New Orleans.
Look for the black and white hat that says: GUY.
All our Tours are Top Rated
What we are about:
Our goals are to give tours that are intellectually stimulating, historically accurate and FUN. We only offer walking tours because we believe that walking is the best way to see a city and learn about it and at a price everyone can afford
Nola Tour Guy offers no novelty “ghost” or “vampire” tours only the real history brought to life by our passionate guides. Join us, you won’t be disappointed.
See the best of New Orleans through the eyes of a local thanks to our independently owned tour service. After your Garden District walking tour with Nola Tour Guy, you’ll have a newfound understanding of and appreciation for the fascinating stories and history that makes New Orleans so special.
A video about our Garden District Walking Tours
