Built on Water, Tested by Storm: Before & After Katrina
What your day looks like
Step into New Orleans’ layered history and its complex relationship with water on this 2-hour guided walking tour exploring New Orleans’ history, resilience, and sustainability in relation to water. Through honest storytelling and expert context, your guide traces floods, engineering decisions, Katrina’s devastation, and the city’s ongoing sustainability efforts. The tour weaves together culture, policy, and lived experience to reveal how natural forces and human choices shaped the city’s vulnerabilities and innovations. By the end, you will have a clearer sense of what happened, why it matters, and what the future of New Orleans demands.
The experience, in brief
- Explore the water history and resilience of New Orleans on a guided walking tour.
- Visit landmarks like Jackson Square and the Mississippi River.
- Learn about Hurricane Katrina, levees, and flood protection.
- Discover sustainability projects at Woldenberg Park.
- Explore the historic French Market and waterfront areas.
The journey, in full
You will start this journey at 768 Decatur Street with views of Jackson Square and steps away from the river. Your guide will meet you there. You and your tour guide will then head to the banks of the Mississippi River. You will see the Crescent turn, the levees, and the docks. You will also see and discuss our lines of defense against storms. These are all part of our water story. As you walk to Latrobe Park and hear its history, you will learn about the first water system in New Orleans and what grew from it. At Woldenberg Riverfront Park, you will see our newest green infrastructure in the most fun and beautiful glory. This is where you will be discussing what is being done with new techniques and how you can help where you live, too. Jackson Square holds so much history, both positive and negative, but it doesn't flood. You will hear why while you also see firsthand our struggle with water equity and what happened with the Ninth Ward and Lakeview areas during Katrina. The French Market is older than the city and was first an indigenous trading post. You will be able to see the shops, see the food vendors, all while witnessing our water history and advancements firsthand. Your tour will have even more stops and sights. It will end near where it begins, and you will have a new wealth of knowledge. The information doesn't end when the walking does. We will gladly send you a follow-up document with even more information on the history of water in our beloved city.
Your day, step by step
New Orleans
City/Town Tour.
New Orleans
Sightseeing at French Quarter (New Orleans).
New Orleans
Eco Tour at Woldenberg Park (New Orleans).
New Orleans
Eco Tour at Jackson Square (New Orleans).
New Orleans
Local Flavor at French Market, New Orleans.
What to know before booking
Included
Two-hour walking tour with a licensed and well-versed guide Historical storytelling covering the history of water in New Orleans and sustainability advancements
Not Included
Gratuities Beverages
What to Bring
- Comfortable clothes and shoes - Camera - Sunscreen & Hat - Bag for Essentials - Water - Umbrella for shade or rain
Restrictions
- Due to uneven terrain, this tour is not recommended for anyone with mobility issues
Meeting & Pickup
Meet your guide at 768 Decatur Street at the bottom of the concrete steps. You will see Jackson Square across the street
Languages Offered
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Planning Notes
Hotel pickup offered: No Confirmation: Manual By Business