French Quarter History: New Orleans' Unique Past

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 - From the earliest settlers in the city, to slave rebellions, to the amazing woman who was Michaela Almonester. You’ll learn all about where this city started and how far it’s come.
  • St. Louis Cathedral - See the outside of the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral and hear a bit about early economics, smuggling, and piracy in the…
What's Included
  • Live Guide
What's Not Included
  • 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…

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.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(74 Ratings)
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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
Anonymous
Apr 9, 2025
We enjoyed this tour but... - We enjoyed this tour but we booked with family not knowing it was 2 hours long and that you’d end up far from where it started. Very friendly and knowledgeable guide
Review provided by Viator
139kalvinr
Apr 5, 2025
Very well informed history tour - The tour was very detailed and we learned so much about the history of New Orleans start. Highly recommend if you love history
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W4344qoalg
Mar 30, 2025
The Era of New Orleans - Fantastic tour and so much history covered! Graham was an amazing guide. Easily accessible. The sites covered had time for questions and the documentation provided helped with the visualization of historical French Quarter
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
From $35
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).