Page 60 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

58  NE W ORLEANS AREA B Y AREA

2 St. Louis Cathedral, Cabildo,
and Presbytère

This complex of buildings was the most important ensemble in
the early colony. The Cabildo, designed by Guilberto Guillemard,
was built and financed in 1795 by Don Andrés Almonester y
Rojas. It served as a capitol for the legislative assembly of the
Spanish colonial government, and subsequently as the City Hall.
From 1853 to 1911, it housed the state Supreme Court. The Casa
Curial, or Presbytère, was built between 1794 and 1813, and
served as a courthouse until 1911. Today, both buildings are
flagship properties of the Louisiana State Museum. Two earlier
churches on the site of the St. Louis Cathedral were destroyed, . Main Altar
the first by a hurricane in 1722, the second by a fire in 1788. The carved-wood Baroque altars
were constructed in Ghent,
The current building was begun in 1789 and dedicated as a Belgium, and brought to the
cathedral in 1794. It has been substantially modified since then. cathedral in pieces.

Cathedral Dome
A great mural of St. Louis announcing the Seventh Crusade
was painted above the altar.

Napoleon’s Death Mask
The museum’s collection
includes a casting of
Napoleon’s face made
after the French emperor’s
death in 1821.
. Sala Capitular
The Louisiana Purchase (see p19)
was signed in this room; this desk
set was in place at the time.

058-059_EW_New_Orl.indd 58 05/08/16 3:49 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm