New Orleans Carrollton Historical Trail

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Length: 5.2 miles

Time to complete: 2-3 hours

Description:  The trail follows the original path of the New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad.  There is a patch for this trail.

Activities: This trail includes stops at Lee Circle and Lafayette Square

Trail History

The route of the New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad is covered when you follow the Carrollton Historical Trail and follow the original path.  This rail line is one of the oldest street railways in continuous operation in the world.  Today it is called the St. Charles Streetcar Line and still provides daily transportation for thousands of daily commuters and tourists along this recently remodeled roadbed.

The city developed uptown after 1835, along the route of this railway.  Originally 9.2 miles long, the route extended from around Canal Street to what is now Carrollton and St. Charles Avenues.  The railroad initially served the town of Carrollton, but later extended to Bouligny (Napoleon Avenue) and eventually the rest of uptown New Orleans.

The trail you will follow will pass through the lands of 13 plantations.  Major points of interest include historic buildings and many examples of 19th Century architectural styles that are characteristic of New Orleans.  Optional side tours of the Garden District, Coliseum Square, Audubon Park, and the French Quarter can be enjoyed.

The trail is indeed historic in that the street car line as well as the Garden District, Coliseum Square and the French Quarter have all been designated and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  The route gives an idea of what New Orleans looked like during the 19th Century.

It is recommended to begin the hike at Carrollton due to better parking options.  However, the hike can be done from Canal to Carrollton, using the waypoints in reverse.

Waypoints

1. Carrollton Courthouse (also formerly the site of Ben Franklin School) 719 S. Carrollton Avenue.  Construction began for this building in 1854 and was completed in late 1855.  Once the courthouse for Jefferson Parish prior to Carrollton’s annexation by New Orleans in 1874, this building has served as a courthouse as well as the site for several public schools.  It is slated to become a senior living facility. During its use as a courthouse in 1858, the case Joseph Tom v. The Slave Ernest was heard, and the district judge decided that “Slaves are persons, not things, and cannot therefore be seized provisionally.”
2. Camelback houses (1806) 7628-34 St. Charles Avenue.
3. Dominican College (1882)
4. Doll House (7209 St. Charles Avenue)
5. Audubon Place (on your left)
6. Audubon Park (on your right)
7. Tulane University
8. Loyola University
9. Wedding Cake House (1894) 5809 St. Charles Avenue
10. Tara Reproduction (Gone with the Wind) 5705 St. Charles Avenue.
11.  Sacred Heart Academy (1897) 4521 St. Charles Avenue
12.  Unity Temple (1960) 3722 St. Charles Avenue
13.  Christ Church Cathedral 2919 St. Charles Avenue
14. The Garden District (runs from Louisiana Avenue to Jackson Avenue)
15.  Lee Circle and the Confederate Museum; the National World War II Museum is also close by.
16. Julia Row at 600 Julia Street
17. Gallier Hall (former City Hall) 525 St. Charles Avenue
18. Lafayette Square

Now you can visit the French Quarter or return to South Carrollton via the streetcar.  Streetcar fares are $1.00 each and you must have either a token or correct change.