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French Quarter History: New Orleans' Unique Past
4.7
79 Ratings
New Orleans
Uncover the gritty truths of New Orleans’ wild history on this engaging and immersive history tour. From Yellow Fever to jazz, explore the city’s past like never before.
Uncover the gritty truths of New Orleans’ wild history on this engaging and immersive history tour. From Yellow Fever to jazz, explore the city’s past like never before.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Jackson Square - Discover the journey from the city’s earliest settlers, through slave uprisings, to the remarkable Michaela Almonester. Explore the origins of the city and its impressive evolution.
- St. Louis Cathedral - Admire the exterior of the stunning St. Louis Cathedral and delve into the city’s early economic history, including…
- Jackson Square - Discover the journey from the city’s earliest settlers, through slave uprisings, to the remarkable Michaela Almonester. Explore the origins of the city and its impressive evolution.
- St. Louis Cathedral - Admire the exterior of the stunning St. Louis Cathedral and delve into the city’s early economic history, including smuggling and piracy.
- Voodoo Authentica - Voodoo plays a significant role in New Orleans’ history and culture. Learn about the true essence of New Orleans Voodoo and the legendary Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau.
- Old Ursuline Convent Museum - Discover the story of the Ursuline nuns, their arrival in New Orleans, and their influence on the city’s early development.
- 919 Royal St - Gain insights into the appearance of New Orleans during the 18th and 19th centuries, as Yellow Fever and numerous fires impacted the city.
- Madame John’s Legacy - At this architectural stop, explore the distinctive styles of New Orleans architecture and what sets them apart.
- Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar - Conclude your journey at one of the oldest bars in New Orleans.
What's Included
- Live Guide
- Live Guide
What's Not Included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Alcoholic beverages
Additional Information
Prepare to be transported through time as your experienced storyteller paints a detailed picture of what life was like during different eras of French Quarter history. From Yellow Fever and the toll it took on our city, to the famous Jackson Square and the establishment of La Nouvelle Orléans; from the history of enslaved peoples and their impact on…
Prepare to be transported through time as your experienced storyteller paints a detailed picture of what life was like during different eras of French Quarter history. From Yellow Fever and the toll it took on our city, to the famous Jackson Square and the establishment of La Nouvelle Orléans; from the history of enslaved peoples and their impact on religion and culture, to what makes the architecture in our city so incredibly unique; from our historical red light district, to the earliest notes of jazz.
This tour will have you laughing and crying as you grapple with all that New Orleans has gone through to get where it is today. History lovers, join us on an adventure through the real, gritty history of New Orleans.
- While we do our best to accommodate all guests with mobility issues, the conditions of the terrain in the historic French Quarter present challenges. Please book accordingly.
Location
Witches Brew Gallery & Haunted Sanctuary
Exchange Place
Witches Brew Gallery at 311 Exchange Place. Make sure to leave an offering at Papa Legba's altar before starting your tour!
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(79 Ratings)
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Walkerlm
Dec 15, 2025
Unique and Insightful - Such a great history tour! We were looking for something a cut above in terms of quality, and this definitely hit the mark. It's obvious that our guide (Graham) knows his stuff. I've done several tours in NOLA and can honestly say I never learned so many interesting tidbits in such a short amount of time as I did on this one. Graham started the tour by warning us that he was going to be incorporating new historical scholarship; and that we may learn things that contradicted established NOLA lore. He then proceeded to infuse the tour with letters and journal entries from real people who *actually* lived during that time (and sent us the reference list when the tour was done). He provided insight into the people in a way that really made the NOLA history come alive! If you want to come away with a deep appreciation for the unique personalities who built this city, I couldn't recommend this tour more highly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bertag999
Oct 18, 2025
History of New Orleans - There’s a lot of information to absorb. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and passionate about the history of New Orleans. It was incredible how he remembered all of this.
Review provided by Viator
633murielm
Jul 14, 2025
Great way to learn about the early history of New Orleans - My guide was very knowledgeable about New Orleans when it was under French and Spanish rule. He clearly enjoys history and explained things in a conversational way that kept my interest. He checked often to see if we had questions and did a good job of answering the questions we had. I enjoyed the tour and would recommend it to fellow history lovers.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explore06770658885
Jul 2, 2025
An Amazing Tour with Graham! - Our historical tour of New Orleans with Graham was absolutely phenomenal! From the moment the tour began, it was clear we were in expert hands. Graham brought the city’s rich and complex history to life with passion, humor, and deep knowledge. He didn’t just recite facts — he told the stories behind the stories, weaving in local legends, cultural insights, and personal anecdotes that made everything feel vivid and real.
Whether we were walking past iconic landmarks or in a tucked-away corners of the French Quarter, Graham made sure we understood the significance of every stop. His storytelling style was engaging and approachable — like listening to a friend who just happens to be a brilliant historian.
We left the tour feeling inspired, informed, and more connected to New Orleans than we ever expected. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the city — and if you can, ask for Graham. He’s a true gem!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adrianapg4091rb
Jun 18, 2025
Nicki is amazing - Nicki is absoloutley lovely she shared amazing history , very informative and interesting. You have to stop by and see her
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John
May 24, 2025
New Orleans history - Very informative and interesting tour. Graham makes history jump off the page and really explains the whys and wherefores of New Orleans history in a clear manner.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeds348
May 11, 2025
Incredibly Tour of New Orleans for History fans - This is a wonderful tour of the French Quarter. Our guide, Graham, was incredibly knowledgeable and made the tour very exciting for us. I have a deep love of learning history and Graham’s thoughtful approach to the history of the New Orleans made this tour a delight. Even my wife, who is not a history fan, enjoyed the experience. Would highly recommend for anyone seeking a fun learning experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N5311xrcassandrad
May 5, 2025
A Tour Beyond the Basics - If you're looking for a deep dive into history, this tour is for you. Graham is extremely knowledgeable and passionate and is an excellent storyteller. I've lived in New Orleans for over 10 years and already knew a fair amount of history, and this tour took it to another level. I think of it as an advanced version - great for locals and history buffs.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joseph_c
Apr 26, 2025
Be prepared for lots of historical information! - Graham was a very knowledgeable tour guide. He sounded like a textbook at times! He really dove into a lot of details about many historical New Orleans figures. There were only a few stops on the tour and we spent about 20 minutes at each spot. This tour is really not meant for children and adolescents.
Review provided by Viator
Diane_h
Jan 23, 2026
Beware! If their quota of people aren't met, you most likely will be cancelled! - This excursion was cancelled within a few the day of the trip due to not enough people signed up! The tour group was to not be anymore than 10 people and we were 2! Then we traveled to the Witches Brew location and no one there knew anything about the tour or its cancellation. We then had to call another number to then be told that Viator had to be called to request a refund.
Review provided by Viator
