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Early 20th Century New Orleans

© Kathryn Morse

By the beginning of the twentieth century, the character and atmosphere of present day New Orleans was well established. Modern infrastructure was brought to New Orleans in the beginning of the twentieth century, but the basic characteristics of the city have not changed.

The Good

New Orleans, then as now, was center of culture and entertainment. Companies in the city offered opera, plays, and concerts. And even then New Orleans was the home of world class hotels and some of the best restaurants in the Western Hemisphere.

The city's cosmopolitan exotic semi-Latin atmosphere attracted artists and writers. The city also boasted museums and libraries and the very popular horse racing. Other public sports contests that became available were boxing, baseball and college football.

The most talked about contribution of New Orleans (other than cuisine) was Jazz. Jazz is described as a combination of black folk tunes, brass band marches and ragtime. Jazz developed in the seedy parts of New Orleans about 1900.

The Bad

New Orleans was the last major city in the entire country to get a sewer system. The filth was unimaginable to those of us used to sewer and water systems. By 1910, however, New Orleans was able to construct both a water and sewer system with drainage improvements to the city. With less stagnant water in which mosquitoes could breed, malaria and yellow fever wee reduced.

With the invention of the car, many horses (and their resulting manure with flies) were removed from the streets. And as people demanded paved streets for their cars, the mud and dust problems were reduced in New Orleans.

Links

• A History of New Orleans. On site book text. Very interesting!

• Archives of New Orelans. For the serious researcher a list of repositories with addresses and contact information.

• Louis Armstrong Centennial Home Page. Details of the celebrations beginning in May 2001 and continuing through the end of the year. Louis Armstrong's birthday was August 4, 1901 and there will be a special conference August 2-4 in New Orleans as well as many other events throughout the year honoring this musician and the genre of music he helped popularize.

• Red Hot Musicians. Jazz musicians from 1895 to 1929 listed with clickable bios.

• A Guide to New Orleans Architecture. From New Orleans Online. Descriptions and pictures with dates of notable New Orleans buildings - public, private and commercial. Some date to the 1700's.

• Shotgun House. Informative page on the typical style of home in early 20th century New Orleans. From Great Buildings Online.

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