Page 110 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

108  NE W ORLEANS AREA B Y AREA

0 Women’s Guild
can also wander through the
warehouses and view gigantic Opera House
decorative figures, made of 2504 Prytania St. Map 8 A3.
either fiberglass or Styrofoam Tel 899-1945. v St. Charles.
overlaid with papier-mâché. It @ 11, 14, 27. Open for tours
is also possible to climb on to by appointment only. & 8
the floats to get an idea of what
it is like to ride them. The cost William Freret designed the
of the floats is borne by the original Greek Revival section of
krewes themselves, with contri- this house in 1858 for a wealthy
butions from their members. merchant. In 1996, the house
was bequeathed to the Women’s
Guild of the New Orleans Opera
One of the impressive floats at Mardi 9 Toby’s Corner Association, and it is now used for
Gras World meetings and receptions. It also
2340 Prytania St. Map 8 A3. features some exhibits relating
8 Mardi Gras World v St. Charles. @ 11, 14, 27. to the history of opera in the city;
Closed to the public.
1380 Port of New Orleans Place. in the 19th century, New Orleans
Map 8 C3. Tel 475-2317. v Riverfront. Built around 1838, this house was a major opera center,
Open 9:30am–5:30pm daily. & 8 was constructed for Thomas Toby although the original opera
= ∑ mardigrasworld.com and is believed to be the oldest house burned down in 1919.
residence in the Garden District. It is open to the public for
Blaine Kern is often called Toby was a native Philadelphian, guided tours for 20 or more
“Mr. Mardi Gras” because so who moved to New Orleans people with reservations.
many of the massive floats that and became a very successful
roll through the streets during wheelwright. He amassed a huge q Colonel
Carnival (see pp30–31) are fortune but lost it financing Sam
constructed here in the 20 Houston and the cause for Texas Short’s Villa
warehouse-dens of his company. independence from Mexico. It 1448 Fourth St. Map 7 F3.
A tour of Mardi Gras World was, in fact, his wife who paid for v St. Charles. @ 11, 14, 27.
begins with a short film showing the construction of the house. Closed to the public.
the floats in the parades and the Subsequently, Toby worked as a
stages of their production, from plantation manager until he died. Henry Howard designed this
the original drawings to the After the Civil War (see pp20–21), large Italian-style residence
manufacture of the final pieces. the house was foreclosed and sold in 1859 for native Kentuckian
Visitors are then free to don at auction for $5,000. Nowadays, Colonel Robert Short. The
some of the costumes that it is privately owned and closed veranda, with fine iron railings,
krewe members have worn in to the public. However, its facade extends around three sides
past parades. Many of these are is an impressive example of the of the house. An exquisite
very heavy and ornate. Visitors Greek Revival style. ironwork fence, incorporating

The Women’s Guild Opera House, combining an octagonal tower and a Greek Revival main house

108-109_EW_New_Orl.indd 108 05/08/16 3:49 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm