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LA History & Facts
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Updated: Nov 2nd, 2006 - 18:32:58 |
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Facts about New Orleans, Louisiana
By New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau
Jun 4, 2006, 12:51 PST
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Learn some basic information on the city of Louisiana
Fascinating Facts About The New Orleans Area.
How many major hurricanes have hit the city of New Orleans?
According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Library, New Orleans has been hit by two major (Category 3 or above) hurricanes. Those were Hurricane Betsy (Category 3) in September 1965 and Hurricane Katrina (Category 4) in August 2005.
When will the levees protecting New Orleans be rebuilt?
President Bush has recently pledged $3.1 billion for fortified hurricane protection. "The levee system will be better and stronger than it has ever been in the history of New Orleans," said Donald Powell, the top federal official for Hurricane Katrina reconstruction. In early January 2006, Congress gave the Army Corps of Engineers an extra $225 million--eight times the annual appropriation before Hurricane Katrina--to expedite flood control work in Jefferson and Orleans parishes. The US Army Corps of Engineers has the funding for the rebuilding of the levee system and in the process of making repairs. Ms. Susan Jackson, Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District has stated the following: "By the end of December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will have completed enough work to provide the city with an interim level of flood protection to get it through the rainy season. At some locations we'll elevate damaged levees and at other sites we'll install temporary barriers. All levees and barriers will rise 10 feet above sea level. Our goal is to repair the system to its pre-Katrina authorized level of protection by June of 2006. The amount of work we are talking about would normally take several years, but we are going to accelerate it and compress it into eight months. We are only authorized by Congress to return the system to its pre-Katrina authorized design heights and level of protection. Any future improvements would have to be directed by Congress as well as funded. Congress has directed the Corps to conduct a comprehensive hurricane protection analysis and design to develop a full range of flood control, coastal restoration and hurricane protection measures for south Louisiana for Category 5 protection. The $8 million analysis will be at full federal expense with a preliminary technical report due to Congress within six months and a final technical report for Category 5 protection within 24 months. Any future work would have to be directed by Congress as well as funded."
How large is the French Quarter?
The area it occupies is the same 6x13 block area laid out in 1722 as the original City of New Orleans.
Source: http://www.frenchquartercitizens.com/
How many people live in the French Quarter?
4,000 residents live in the French Quarter.
Source: http://www.frenchquartercitizens.com/
Why is New Orleans called the Crescent City?
The Mississippi River flows in the shape of a crescent around the city.
Why is New Orleans called the Big Easy?
The term "Big Easy" is believed to come from a dance hall by that name which existed in the early 1900s. Some say that it might have been the dance hall, an actual dance, or possibly even a person who could do the dance. At the turn of the century, jazz musicians were fond of nicknames, and might have used the "Big Easy" for an Uptown dance hall. Eventually the nickname transferred to the city as a whole, referring to the gentle pace of life and somewhat lax morals for which New Orleans is known.
Source: Times Picayune - August 27, 1987, 2003
What is the story of the umbrella?
The Story of the Umbrella dates back to around 1830, when the black community sang slow spirituals behind a funeral. After the burial the umbrellas were brought out and twirled to lively music, signaling that the soul of the deceased was now in heaven and happiness prevailed. We now use umbrellas for all occasions, from weddings to sporting events. Source: Everything N'Awlins, 2003
Mardi Gras
What's the Difference between Carnival and Mardi Gras?
Carnival refers to the season of merriment which always begins on January 6. Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is the single culminating day of Carnival and it is always the day before Ash Wednesday.
Is Mardi Gras Really Connected to Religion?
Yes. The Catholic Church licensed Carnival, which means "farewell to flesh," as a period of feasting before the fasting of Lent. The Church also established the set date for the start of the Carnival season -- January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany -- and the fluctuating date of Mardi Gras.
When Was the First Mardi Gras Parade Held in New Orleans?
On February 24, 1857. The Mistick Krewe of Comus, Carnival's first secret society, coined the word "krewe" and was the first to choose a mythological namesake, to present a themed parade with floats, and to follow it with a tableaux ball.
What are the future dates for Mardi Gras?
Future Mardi Gras dates include: February 20, 2007 February 5, 2008 February 24, 2009
Source: NOMCVB, Inc. 2003
Why Does the Date of Mardi Gras Change?
Because it's connected to the moveable date of Easter, which can fall on any Sunday from March 23 to April 25. Mardi Gras is scheduled 47 days preceding Easter and can occur on any Tuesday from February 3 through March 9.
What Do the Carnival Colors Mean?
Purple represents justice, green stands for faith, and gold signifies power. Rex, the King of Carnival, selected them in 1872 for his first parade. While they were probably chosen simply because they looked good together, Rex assigned a meaning to each in his 1892 parade, entitled "Symbolism of Colors."
Who Coordinates Mardi Gras?
No one. While city governments issue parade permits, there is no overall authority that coordinates the five dozen parades held in the metro area during the 12 days that precede Fat Tuesday. Each parading organization is completely autonomous.
Why Are There No Parades in the French Quarter?
For 117 years, virtually every New Orleans Mardi Gras parade rolled through the French Quarter. In 1973 the fire and police departments felt that the increased size of parade floats, and the crowds that gathered to see them, rendered the narrow streets unsafe, so the city issued a ban on parades in that part of New Orleans.
Mardi Gras Learning Links
ClassBrain’s Top Ten Mardi Gras Websites
Source: ClassBrain, Inc.
ClassBrain’s Mardi Gras
An overview of Mardi Gras and the celebrations surrounding it.
Source: ClassBrain, Inc.
Keywords: Facts about New Orleans, Louisiana, New Orleans, facts, Mardi Gras, French Quarter,
© Copyright 2006 ClassBrain.com
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