Founded in 1718 by the French, New Orleans has a colorful history that goes back centuries. Having been under the control of the French, Spanish and the United States, the Big Easy is truly a melting pot of culture. Whether it be the Spanish architecture, the French-inspired cuisine or American musical traditions, the influence of these great nations can still be seen in New Orleans today.
Open for tourist sightseeing and built for inner-city commuting, the New Orleans streetcars are some of the oldest continuously operating trolleys in the world. They have provided affordable transportation for more than 150 years. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
People walk down Bourban Street in Halloween costumes and explore the New Orleans atmosphere. Bourban Street in the French Quarter has been one of the liveliest streets in the city, where one can find bars, live music, crazy costumes and amazing food. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
The arcades along Jackson Square, a historic city center of New Orleans, present a multiplex of shopping options: running the gamut from articles and wares to coffee and beignets. As New Orlean's biggest historic landmark, Jackson Square was the location at which the Louisiana Purchase took place. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Travelers stop in front of the Louis Armstrong Park in City Park. The iconic archway has been an eye-catching entryway for the park, which honors Louis Armstrong. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
A shop bar stands with older architecture. Once upon a time, the store was a Spanish era smithery run by the city legend and privateer Jean Lafitte: now, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar on Bourbon Street offers a Bohemian late night and live music atmosphere in one of the city's oldest buildings. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Houses and apartments all over New Orleans are decorated for Halloween. The city has continued to have a rich history of eerie stories. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Homes in New Orleans draw from Spanish and French influences for their designs. Older architecture can be seen throughout the neighborhoods. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The Garden District's Buckner Mansion dates back to the 19th century and was constructed by a wealthy cotton planting family. The estate was famously featured as a witchery school in the third season of "American Horror Story." Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The Garden District's Buckner Mansion dates back to the 19th century and was constructed by a wealthy cotton planting family. The estate was famously featured as a witchery school in the third season of "American Horror Story." Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
A beautiful swamp showcases the best of nature in New Orleans. It has been located behind the renowned Cafe du Monde in City Park. Photographed by Cathryn Kuczynski/Bruinlife.
Across from Cafe du Monde, beautiful Spanish moss hangs from reaching trees, framing a scenic bridge. Sensitive to pollution, Spanish moss would not be found near bustling urban sprawls, and instead line serene rivers. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
A woman kneels down to feed some beignet to a group of white ibises while some children watch. White ibis can be found on the Gulf Coast. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Apartments and shops lining the French Quarter deck out their balconies in Halloween decorations. All the ghosts, witches and spiders lit up the night and added to the fun Halloween festivities. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Arcadian Books & Prints on Orleans Street might be a veritable disarray of books shelved in every which way, but the shop's walled maze of stacks offers an incredibly memorable experience that is bound to match you with the perfect book. Be careful with your bags while exploring through this store. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Amongst the partygoers and tourists, a bicyclist rides down Bourban Street in the French Quarter, carrying a trash bag. Due to its narrow roads and slow traffic, the French Quarter is ideal to travel around by bike. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Onlookers watch people flood the streets of the French Quarter. These restaurant balconies were built in New Orleans starting in the 19th century. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Skeletons clime the railings of balconies above the streets of the French Quarter. Halloween decorations were strewn throughout the city. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Inflatable ghosts and wooden coffins adorn the outside of a bar on Bourban Street. During Halloween, the streets were filled with decorations and festive sights. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Individuals run for cover at Pier 424 during unexpected showers. People drank and enjoyed live music while the rain came down. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
A couple stops to get their photo taken by a man selling Polaroids on the street. People flooded through the streets in the French Quarter, enjoying the lively atmosphere and scenic streets. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Stepping into one of the many trinket shops along the streets in the French Quarter, one can find beads, masks and colorful boas. Such trinkets have been reminiscent of Mardi Gras. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
A statue of President Andrew Jackson rearing atop his warhorse dominates the center of Jackson Square in front of Saint Louis Cathedral. Andrew Jackson's repulsion of the British from New Orleans during the War of 1812 fixed his place in the city's pantheon of heroes, as well as propelling him to the presidency. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Art adorns the pillars underneath a highway overpass along North Claiborne Avenue. These pillars were painted as a part of the "Restore the Oaks" project by the New Orleans African American Museum. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Graves stand in a New Orleans cemetery. Most graves in the city were entombed in cement or raised to stand above ground, as most cemeteries in the city fall below sea level due to the dredging of new lands in the city's early history. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Burial vaults line the wall with placards and flowers for the dead. Some funeral laws in New Orleans were known for their oddness. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
Railroad tracks along the Mississippi River run adjacent to the French Quarter. They have carried people to and from the heart of New Orleans in the past, present and into the future. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
The dam spans the small river and can close during harsh storms or tornados. Many dams protected New Orleans neighborhoods from flooding. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
The Greater New Orleans Bridge appears through heavy fog across the Mississippi River. This bridge connects the Garden District and the Fischer Development Neighborhood. Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
