If you live in, or are planning a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras 2015, you should be visiting Bourbon Street for its character, history, nightlife, and shopping. It truly is a place of nonstop partying and events.
Bourbon Street History
Bourbon street is a major street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The French Quarter is the oldest part of the city, having been founded in 1718. The streets in New Orleans were named after Catholic saints and the French royal houses. Bourbon street was named after the House of Bourbon, a royal family in France.
Originally built by the French, after the Seven Years’ War, the Spanish gained control of the city. When a fire destroyed most of the Quarter, the Spanish rebuilt it using their own style, thus adding a distinctive Spanish flair to about 80 percent of the buildings. The French Quarter quickly grew to be the center of the Creole culture.
Nowadays, Bourbon Street is a popular tourist spot for shoppers, revelers, and bar hoppers. Bourbon street hosts a number of festivals, many open to families. Still, Bourbon street has many clubs as well as popular bars for people looking for entertainment.