The Garden District of New Orleans

The Garden District of New Orleans has enthralled residents and visitors alike since it arose in the 1830's with its stately white-columned Greek Revival mansions and double-galleried Italianate houses decorated with lacy cast iron. Photographer West Freeman evokes the romance of this elegant neighborhood with lovely images of private homes dazzling gardens and public structures. Author Jim Fraiser vividly details the historical significance and architectural styles of more than a hundred structures and chronicles both the political and cultural evolution of the neighborhood.The Garden District unlike the French Quarter evolved under the auspices of predominantly Anglo-American architects hired by newly arriving and newly wealthy Americans. Beyond these wealthy homeowners the Garden District also offers a startlingly diverse and freewheeling history teeming with African American slaves free men and women of color French Italians Germans Jews and Irish all of whom helped fashion it into